The United Arab Emirates` incumbent telecom operator, today announced an agreement to conduct a field trial of Alcatel`sVoice over ATM (VoATM) solution in Dubai.The field trial, which is part of Etisalat`s Next Generation Network evaluation program in the United Arab Emirates, will start at the end of 2001.
Building on Etisalat`s installed base of Alcatel 7470 Multiservice Platforms (MSP), the field trial program will be conducted in two phases. Alcatel`s VoATM solution, based on the Alcatel 7470 MSP, the Alcatel 1000 Softswitch and the Alcatel 5620 Network Manager, will initially be tested with limited live traffic. After successful operation in this environment, Alcatel`s VoATM solution will be integrated into Etisalat`s live network, leading to the development of Next Generation Network and services in the United Arab Emirates.
Essa Mohammed Al Haddad, General Manager of Etisalat, said: "The evolution towards Next Generation Networks will enable Etisalat to quickly introduce new services and to manage more efficiently the convergence of voice and data traffic in its network. This field trial will allow us to assess the range of benefits that Alcatel`s NGN platform offers."
Herv'e de Menthi`ere, Alcatel`s Country Senior Officer in the UAE, stated: "This trial is further proof that Alcatel is driving the Next Generation Network revolution. Alcatel`s solutions will bring to Etisalat a future proof migration path, enhancing their circuit switched networks towards a multiservice packet-based network."
The Alcatel NGN portfolio of applications supports internet offload, VPN management, class 4 transit applications and VoIP services. About the Alcatel 1000 Softswitch The Alcatel 1000 Softswitch system provides the control functions for converged voice and data services in a packet-based network. It controls session and connection set-up and tear down for all types of traffic, including voice, data and multimedia video and music. The integration of this equipment in their current network enables operators to offer carrier-class voice over IP and voice over ATM services.
The Alcatel 1000 Softswitch uses standard-based open interfaces to communicate easily with gateways, packet switches and other nodes, enabling multi-vendor interoperability. About the Alcatel 7470 Multiservice Platform The Alcatel 7470 Multiservice Platform (MSP) is a scalable, high capacity ATM-based platform incorporating Media Gateway capabilities that can provide tandem switching in a packet voice network. The Alcatel 7470 MSP is ideal for both service delivery and backbone network applications. Services include IP, voice, frame relay, cell relay and private line services, delivered over TDM, SONET/SDH, DWDM, DSL and wireless access facilities.
Advanced multiservice capabilities enable network consolidation and offer service providers significant operational savings and reduce overall services cost base. About the Alcatel 5620 Network Manager The Alcatel 5620 Network Manager (NM) is the cornerstone of the Alcatel value proposition for data networks. As a fully integrated component of a service provider`s Operational Support System (OSS), the Alcatel 5620 NM manages both wireline and wireless broadband services on an end-to-end basis.
From a single centralized platform, the Alcatel 5620 NM can simultaneously manage a full spectrum of services (IP, Data, Private Line, etc.) across access, edge and core network solution offerings. The Alcatel 5620 NM is a proven platform that is installed in more than 1,000 networks worldwide.
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Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 110,000 employees and sales of EURO 31 billion in 2000, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. About Etisalat Telecommunications in the UAE is dominated by the highly successful majority state-owned operator Etisalat. It is the monopoly supplier of all major services - fixed-line, cellular, data communications, and the Internet - a control that is being extended to new areas such as satellite communications and CATV. Within a short span of just two decades since its inception, the Corporation has succeeded in transforming the UAE into one of the most advanced countries in the world in the field of telecommunications by providing advanced services. Today, it is ranked as the number one company in the Gulf region in terms of turnover.
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