TMCnet News
BT Picks Alcatel to Deliver Fixed-Mobile Convergence ServicesTMCnet Contributing Editor Alcatel was selected by BT Group to provide a fixed-mobile managed communication system for its enterprise customers in the UK and Europe based on its IMS-compliant Corporate Mobility Manager. Named "Enterprise Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC)," BT's project is expected to be commercially deployed early next year.
The new contract calls for Alcatel (News - Alert) to design, integrate and test the system. Alcatel will supply key platform elements from its Managed Communication Services (MCS) portfolio and will also ensure that the system integrates seamlessly into BT's enterprise customer sites. The Alcatel-primed consortium includes Lucent Technologies (News - Alert) products. Lucent will provide its VPN Firewall and VitalAAA security products and design team specialists.
BT's project will allow enterprise users to be reachable on a dual mode handset using one single phone number. They will be able to make and receive both fixed and mobile calls.
This project will enable BT to target large business customers in the UK as well as multinational corporate customers throughout Europe. The telecom can now provide services across GSM networks or available wireless local area networks (WLAN). While being able to move freely within their "campus," BT enterprise users will be able to access both personal and corporate directory info from anywhere.
"Typical enterprise customers today have multiple devices on multiple networks generating multiple bills and service interfaces," stated Steven Evans, BT's chief of wireless broadband and future products. "The Enterprise FMC" project provides one simple experience for the user whilst creating additional value from the device and network through cost savings and enhanced efficiency."
Today's news follows Alcatel's recent announcement about it scoring two contracts from Shanxi Mobile Communication Company Limited (Shanxi MCC) in China to expand the operator's GSM network. The contract was valued at Euro 24 million (U.S. 29 million). The contracts were won through Alcatel Shanghai Bell, Alcatel's flagship Chinese company.
The network expansion contract called for Alcatel to provide and install its Evolium GSM/EDGE systems including Base Stations (BTS), Base Station Controllers (BSC), Transcoder (TC), Multi-BSS Fast Packet Server (MFS) supporting the Packet Control Unit (PCU) functions, and Operation & Maintenance Center for Radio (OMC-R), in seven major cities in Shanxi province, namely Yuncheng, Luliang, Linfeng, Jincheng, Changzhi, Xinzhou and Jinzhong.
BT Group
Alcatel
-----
Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit Johanne Torres' columnist page.
|