Client Overview
The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) is one of the most respected television networks in the Middle East. It provides high-quality news, entertainment, and cultural programming to both local and international audiences. Working in a critical broadcasting environment, LBCI continually invests in the latest technologies to ensure reliability, performance, and smooth content delivery.
Business Context
LBCI began a modernization of its network and infrastructure to meet its growing operational needs and prepare for future growth. The goal was to build a secure, strong, and high-performance IT backbone that supports continuous broadcasting and streamlined operations.
Key focus areas included:
- Modernizing server and virtualization platforms
- Strengthening network security and redundancy
- Upgrading network speeds to handle high-bandwidth media workflows
- Simplifying management with centralized network services
- Ensuring a smooth transition without impacting live operations
Our Approach
The project began with ITWORKS ME and LBCI's management and IT teams holding a workshop to establish clear objectives and confirm technical requirements. We worked together to create an architecture that met industry standards and was ready for the future.
We then executed a phased implementation plan to ensure service continuity while progressively upgrading the infrastructure.
Key Deliverables
- Enterprise Server Modernization
Three enterprise-grade servers were deployed to host a fully virtualized environment with live replication and integrated backup. This setup provides high availability and operational resilience.
- Secure and Redundant Firewall Architecture
Two next-generation FortiGate firewalls were installed in a High-Availability configuration, ensuring ongoing protection, redundancy, and better traffic handling.
- High-Performance Network Upgrade
The core network was upgraded to 10 Gbps, allowing fast, reliable data transfers that are essential for modern broadcasting and media workflows.
- Resilient Switching Architecture
New core and edge switches were deployed using a star topology design, enhancing stability, redundancy, and optimal traffic flow across all network layers.
- Structured Network Segmentation
VLANs and a modern IP addressing scheme were introduced to boost security, aid performance monitoring, and improve scalability while ensuring smooth operation with existing systems during the transition.
- Seamless Migration Execution
All upgrades were carefully planned and implemented to avoid disruption, maintaining live operations throughout business hours and executing a single controlled switchover during off-peak hours.
Results and Impact
This modernization initiative has significantly strengthened LBCI's IT foundation, positioning the organization for continued growth and operational excellence.
Key outcomes include:
- Highly available infrastructure that supports uninterrupted broadcasting
- Enhanced security with redundant, enterprise-grade firewalls
- High-speed networking that enables efficient media and data workflows
- Simplified and centralized management of network services
- A scalable architecture ready for future expansion and innovation
Next Phase
The final phase of the project involves deploying centralized monitoring and alerting systems. These will provide real-time visibility into network health, performance, and security, further enhancing operational control and proactive management.
Partnership
ITWORKS ME worked closely with LBCI's IT team to deliver this project. This collaboration reflects a strong partnership founded on trust, technical expertise, and a shared commitment to excellence.
Key contributors:
Hanna Tawtah, Georges Tekian