SFR Selects Alcatel-Lucent as Sole Supplier for Nation-Wide IP/MPLS Transport Backbone
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BERLIN - Broadband World Forum, October 8/ - Alcatel-Lucent today announced it has been selected by SFR, the second-largest mobile phone operator in France, to supply a core IP/MPLS network. SFR will be one of the first mobile operators to migrate its voice traffic alongside its growing data services on a next generation backbone. The IP network transformation will equip SFR with a flexible, secure, and cost effective platform for national voice and data communications.
"As a leader in service innovation, our strategy is to strengthen our ability to handle the expected increased demand for voice and new advanced services at an affordable price," said Paul Corbel, CTO of SFR "Alcatel-Lucent's IP/MPLS network, which is part of their META (Mobile Evolution Transport Architecture) solution to all-IP, will effectively enable us to deliver the innovative and converged solutions that our customers across France are demanding."
The Alcatel-Lucent IP/MPLS core network will enable SFR to offer a new set of differentiated mobile broadband services, full network Quality of Service (QoS) on a service-by-service basis. In addition, the core MPLS network based on the Alcatel-Lucent IP solution will enable SFR to dramatically improve on CAPEX and OPEX through the efficiencies of IP-based technology.
"The evolution to an all IP network is clearly underway," said Olivier Picard, President of Alcatel-Lucent's activities in Europe & South. "Alcatel-Lucent addresses one of the biggest challenges faced by mobile operators: dropped calls. With our enhanced IP/MPLS routing portfolio we can address mobile carrier requirements for increased network reliability and very high Quality of Service. Alcatel-Lucent is a strategic partner for SFR supplying solutions for 2G, 3G, WiMAX, microwave and optical transport, and HLR, and is now strengthening that partnership as the sole supplier for its IP/MPLS nation-wide backbone."
The IP/MPLS core network solution is based on the next generation Alcatel-Lucent 7750 Service Router and 7450 Ethernet Service Switch (ESS). These carrier-class IP products have advanced high availability features and non-stop routing that enable a mobile operator like SFR to confidently introduce new revenue generating, "always-on" services while simultaneously migrating existing services onto the same common platform. The 7750 Service Router and 7450 Ethernet Service Switch (ESS) are part of Alcatel-Lucent's Mobile Evolution Transport Architecture (META) announced today at the Broadband World Forum, the industry's most comprehensive vision for the evolution of mobile networks from TDM to all-IP.
The SFR solution also includes the Alcatel-Lucent 5620 Service Aware Manager to provide intelligent service management capabilities that guarantee reliability and end-to-end quality, and to diversify its offering by establishing differentiated quality of service levels based on the type of client or the use of the network.
The complete Alcatel-Lucent solution has an extensive professional services component to ensure seamless deployment and integration and includes project management, design consultancy, maintenance, supervision/operations, and site survey work.
SFR joins a growing number of forward looking mobile operators around the world that are deploying IP/MPLS in their core transport networks.
Over 180 service providers in more than 70 countries have selected Alcatel-Lucent IP solutions. During the second quarter of 2007, Alcatel-Lucent reinforced its #2 position in IP/MPLS edge garnering 21% of the market according to Ovum RHK.
About SFR
With 17.3 million customers and 8,000 employees, SFR is the second largest mobile telecommunications operator in France and has been the market leader in terms of net sales (new customers) since 2003. Operating its own GSM/GPRS and UMTS/HSDPA networks, SFR is able to provide a complete range of mobile telephony and multimedia services, as well as mobile data solutions to its personal, SOHO and business customers. SFR has become the operator of choice for new uses of mobile phones, having been the first operator to launch 3G services on the French market, and now boasts more than 1.4 million exclusively 3G customers. The company is also a player on the fixed telecommunications market through its 28% interest in neuf cegetel, the leading alternative operator on the French market. SFR benefits from a stable ownership structure, with two major shareholders, Vivendi (56%) and Vodafone (44%). About SFR: www.sfr.fr
About Alcatel-Lucent's META
Alcatel-Lucent's Mobile Evolution Transport Architecture (META) is the industry's most comprehensive vision for evolution of mobile networks from TDM to all-IP. As demand for multimedia services increases and average revenue per user (ARPU) declines, the META architecture allows both CDMA and GSM/UMTS mobile operators to transform and scale their network profitably, supporting diverse backhaul alternatives with a clear and smooth evolution to all-IP. META leverages Alcatel-Lucent's unmatched expertise in end-to-end IP network transformation.
About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry.
Alcatel-Lucent achieved adjusted proforma revenues of Euro 18.3 billion in
2006 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris.
(All figures exclude impact of activities transferred to Thales). For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet:
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
Alcatel-Lucent Press Contacts:
Regine Coqueran
Tel:+33-(0)1-40-76-49-24
regine.coqueran@alcatel-lucent.com
Mark Burnworth
Tel:+33-(0)1-40-76-50-84
mark.burnworth@alcatel-lucent.com
Alcatel-Lucent Investor Relations:
Scott Ashby
Tel: +33-(0)1-40-76-29-90
scott.ashby@alcatel-lucent.com
Maria Alcon
Tel: +33-(0)1-40-76-15-17
maria.alcon@alcatel-lucent.com
John DeBono
Tel: +1-908-582-7793
debono@alcatel-lucent.com
Tony Lucido
Tel: +33-(0)1-40-76-49-80
alucido@alcatel-lucent.com
Don Sweeney
Tel: +1-908-582-6153
dsweeney@alcatel-lucent.com
Source: Alcatel-Lucent
