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Alcatel Launches Network Infrastructure Platform Program Based on AdvancedTCA
CANNES, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 15, 2005 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced its endorsement of the Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA) as the preferred architecture for the evolution of its mobile and fixed network infrastructure platforms. As part of its strategy for open, IT-based and cost-effective platforms, Alcatel is leveraging the benefits of AdvancedTCA across its entire portfolio of network solutions, thereby reducing the total cost of ownership for fixed and mobile operators.
Over the past year, Alcatel has been working to define and develop modular communications platforms built upon AdvancedTCA, Carrier-Grade Linux and other industry standards. As part of this program, Alcatel has initiated an active collaboration with Intel, the AdvancedTCA industry leader. Alcatel and Intel are working together on the system architectures for AdvancedTCA that take full advantage of Intel application and network processor products, with the objective to deliver faster time to market and superior price/performance to the industry.
At 3GSM World Congress 2005 in Cannes, Alcatel announced its first AdvancedTCA-compliant SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node), a service-critical mobile core network element which provides the continuity of data communication throughout the different cells of the mobile network. This constitutes one of the world's first applications of AdvancedTCA-based network equipment. Alcatel also leverages AdvancedTCA technology in its Alcatel 5020 Softswitch for fixed networks, further building upon its current successful product based on an earlier version of AdvancedTCA technology.
AdvancedTCA is an open industry standard for carrier-grade blade-based servers, targeting the requirements for next-generation telecommunications network equipment. The series of specifications is designed to provide higher I/O capacity and computing performance, improved reliability and flexibility, reduced equipment footprint and power consumption, as well as greater choice and interoperability of components at multiple levels of the solution 'stack'.
For Alcatel's customers around the world, this transition to an open architecture platform means faster time to market for introducing new telecommunications platforms and applications, being able to more quickly and efficiently leverage of the rapid pace of innovation within the IT industry, further reduction of operating expenses based on a common platform architecture, flexible and modular scaling of network capacity, as well as long-term investment protection.
In order to guarantee the flexibility and openness with improved time to market of its solutions, Alcatel's next-generation network infrastructure program is also building upon an ecosystem of leading IT players such as Motorola, Continuous Computing, Sun Microsystems and HP.
"Adoption of AdvancedTCA technology promises to be a strong trend for the telecom industry. Leveraging a standardized carrier-grade platform for a broad range of applications helps vendors and service providers accelerate innovation cycles while lowering cost. Alcatel has demonstrated an early commitment to AdvancedTCA platforms addressing operators' needs - and it is set to be one of the first to deliver," said Raymond D. Keneipp, Sr. Vice President, Research & Analysis at Current Analysis.
"It is high time to leapfrog legacy and proprietary hardware and software. Alcatel's vision is that of open, cost-effective, high-performance next-generation carrier-grade platforms, benefiting to the maximum from major IT innovations both in hardware and operating systems such as Unix and Carrier-Grade Linux," stated Marc Rouanne, chief operating officer of Alcatel's mobile activities. "We believe such platforms will provide our customers throughout the world with increased performance and flexibility, significant CAPEX and OPEX saving opportunities, as well as reinforced protection of their long-term investment when introducing new functionality in their network. We firmly believe that AdvancedTCA offers a promising path in this direction, and represents another valuable step in the roll-out of Alcatel's user-centric broadband strategy."
"Alcatel's approach aligns with our vision for open standards-based systems as the common platform that can support a broad portfolio of communications applications. This allows forward-looking telecom equipment manufacturers such as Alcatel to significantly reduce the life-cycle costs for their products and focus their resources on adding value for their customers," said Wendy Vittori, corporate vice president and general manager of Embedded Communications Computing at Motorola. "We are pleased that Alcatel has selected Motorola's Centellis product for its next-generation SGSN."
"Continuous Computing has been working as a virtual extension of Alcatel's engineering team for more than 16 months, resulting in timely availability of their media gateway control function," said PJ Go, president and co-founder of Continuous Computing. "We have successfully met Alcatel's demanding requirements in terms of responsiveness, supply chain integration and overall product performance. Continuous Computing is committed to delivering the best total solution for enabling Alcatel's market success."
"Sun is pleased to see a major telecom equipment provider such as Alcatel endorsing AdvancedTCA, and we look forward to building upon our long standing relationship with Alcatel to enable next-generation telecom services," said Raju Penumatcha, Vice President Netra Systems & Networking, Sun Microsystems. "Sun is currently developing a complete AdvancedTCA solution that will meet the most stringent requirements of network equipment providers."
"Alcatel's announcement reflects growing industry support for AdvancedTCA and for standards-based platform technologies," said Marc Rotthier, vice president, Network and Service Provider Business, HP, Europe, Middle East and Africa. "At HP, we understand these unique requirements and we offer a comprehensive framework of proven, commercial off-the-shelf technologies, including AdvancedTCA platforms, which have been enhanced to meet the stringent requirements of voice, data and broadband networks."
About AdvancedTCA
Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (AdvandedTCA) is the largest specification effort in PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG)'s history, with more than 100 companies participating. AdvancedTCA, the PICMG 3.X family, is a new series of PICMG specifications, targeted to requirements for the next generation of carrier-grade communications equipment. This series of specifications incorporates the latest trends in high-speed interconnect technologies, next generation processors and improved reliability, manageability and serviceability. AdvancedTCA (www.AdvancedTCA.org) is a trademark of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (www.picmg.org).
About 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: http://www.alcatel.com
About Intel
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom. Intel is mark or registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
About Continuous Computing
Continuous Computing provides integrated systems and services that enable telecom equipment manufacturers to rapidly deploy Next Generation Networks (NGN). Over 150 customers worldwide benefit from the company's unique blend of customized professional services, Trillium protocol software, AdvancedTCA and CompactPCI systems, and BladeCenter hardware. Continuous Computing helps customers reduce platform lifecycle costs, optimize data delivery, and accelerate deployments of NGN, 3G/4G Wireless, and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) infrastructure. The company is ISO-9001 and CMMI certified and based in San Diego with development centers in China and India. For more information, visit www.ccpu.com.
Continuous Computing is a member of the Intel Embedded and Communications Alliance (www.intel.com/go/ica), Communications Platforms Trade Association (www.cp-ta.org), Femto Forum (www.femtoforum.org), IMS Forum (www.imsforum.org), Service Availability Forum (www.saforum.org), and the Blade.org ecosystem (www.blade.org).
Continuous Computing, the Continuous Computing logo, Create | Deploy | Converge, FlexTCA, Flex21, FlexChassis, FlexCompute, FlexCore, FlexDSP, FlexPacket, FlexStore, FlexSwitch, FlexTCA, Network Service-Ready Platform, Quick!Start, TAPA, Trillium, Trillium+plus, and the Trillium logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Continuous Computing Corporation. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
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