PARIS -- Today, Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) and INEO, GDF SUEZ group, announced the official signing of the “RDIP-Air” (for air force base Internet Protocol service networks) Partnership Agreement with the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the French defense agency. Closely associated on this project as industrial partners, Alcatel-Lucent and INEO Defense have also the support of financial partners: Caisse des Dépôts and the SEIEF investment company (South Europe Infrastructure Equity Finance). This Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is backed by a 16-year contract valued at Eur 350 million.

As part of this contract, Alcatel-Lucent - as the consortium lead - will coordinate the design, deployment, financing, management and maintenance of IP (Internet Protocol)-based telecommunication networks at French metropolitan air force bases. These networks will carry general air force base data as well as information pertaining to military air control and airspace protection over metropolitan France.

INEO, through its subsidiary INEO Defense, will manage the design of service and security architectures, the equipment integration in this infrastructure, the deployment, the maintenance as well as the co-management of this project with Alcatel-Lucent.

The installation will affect approximately 106 metropolitan sites, i.e. more than 36,000 access points and around 1,500 to 2,000 buildings.

The solution uses standard high-tech civilian equipment that meets military security requirements. Moving to all-IP technology will provide compartmentalization and security for different network components as well as more flexibility to handle changes in speed and topology.

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)