Alcatel today announced that it has closed a deal with SFR to trial its mobile Next-Generation Network (NGN) solution throughout the operator`s 2G/3G mobile networks in France.
Alcatel`s solution is already in commercial use with major GSM/EDGE and CDMA operators in the world, with deployments and market trials in North and Latin America, China and India - with over one million ports deployed in 2004.
Alcatel`s solution for SFR is based on an innovative, standards-based mobile switching solution, designed by Spatial Wireless, a company recently acquired by Alcatel. The cornerstone of this solution is the Alcatel 5020 Spatial Atrium Softswitch, a multi-standard and field-proven mobile call server controlling distributed media gateways and managing call/session control for voice and data services.
Alcatel`s distributed MSC architecture will answer SFR`s needs for increased 2G and 3G capacity. It will also allow the operator to significantly reduce its capital and operating costs of its mobile GSM/GPRS core network. Furthermore, following the commercial launch by SFR of its 3G commercial service, Alcatel`s solution will help the operator optimise its costs for its UMTS network expansion, thus ensuring long-term investment protection.
"We decided to test Alcatel equipment as their solution for mobile Next-Generation Networks is immediately available and the most advanced and mature today," stated Paul Corbel, Chief Technical Officer of SFR. "This solution, when validated, will allow SFR to significantly reduce our capital and operating costs and to perform network extensions in a flexible and cost-effective manner."
"We are delighted to further expand the fruitful strategic collaboration we have been experiencing with SFR for many years," said Etienne Fouques, President of Alcatel`s mobile communications activities. "As SFR already is both a 2G and 3G advanced operator, this deal perfectly illustrates the versatility and the adaptability of Alcatel`s mobile Next-Generation Networks solution in a multi-access environment. Ensuring operators` long-term investment protection in preparation for the introduction of IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS), Alcatel`s mobile NGN solution contributes once step further to our delivering on the promise of a truly user-centric broadband world."
Share
SFR, part of the SFR-Cegetel group, is the second-ranking mobile phone operator in France with 35.5% of market share and 15.8 million customers on 31 December 2004, including 20% professional and corporate customers. It recorded turnover of 6.7 billion euros in 2003. Its GSM/GPRS network now covers over 98% of the French population and 87% of French territory. As the first mobile operator to launch 3G in France in November 2004, SFR covered 64 out of 104 of the largest towns in France in 3G by late 2004.
Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 12.3 billion in 2004, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet at http://www.alcatel.com.