Alcatel Expands BT 21CN Role

PARIS -- Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced that it has agreed with BT Group plc to expand Alcatel’s Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based multimedia platform in commercial operation in BT’s network. This IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-compliant expansion plays a part in enabling BT to host a complete set of advanced revenue-generating voice and multimedia services over a common, open and reusable architecture which should deliver lower service delivery costs. The expansion will be “live” in the BT network by the fourth quarter 2005.

IMS describes an end-to-end architecture with common and reusable service enablers and functions to facilitate the rapid introduction of advanced IP multimedia services. It uses the flexibility of SIP to blend fixed and mobile service capabilities creating a seamless service experience regardless of the communication device used by the subscriber. Alcatel has developed a complete and modular IMS solution, allowing for a flexible and secure network transformation.

As part of the contract, Alcatel is extending the functionality and capacity of the Alcatel 5020 Softswitch and the ACME Packet Session Director (SD) already in commercial operation in BT’s network. As the overall SIP session control element and mediation device among multimedia application servers, the Alcatel 5020 Softswitch implements the call & session control function (CSCF). The ACME Packet SD provides a proxy function (P-CSCF) to satisfy critical security and quality assurance requirements for carrier class IP multimedia services.

Richard Gilman BT Wholesale chief designer for voice and multimedia infrastructure said “This upgrade will deliver a substantial increase in capacity and support for multiple services with improved time to market. Coupled with the service provisioning capability of Alcatel’s multimedia platform, BT will be ideally positioned to develop generic, wholesale solutions for both our internal and external customers”.

Alcatel

BT Group plc