MILAN, Italy -- Italtel, one of the leading companies in the development and integration of products and services for next generation networks over IP, announces it started the implementation of the new multimedia communication network for Center Telecom, part of Svyazinvest Group, the incumbent Russian fixed network operator. The solution, based on Italtel’s platform, will allow users to take advantage of voice, video and broadband Internet services in addition to the services already offered.

The Russian market today is very dynamic, with drivers for growth linked to the demand for IP-based value added services, in addition to modernisation of traditional networks through the replacement of analogue exchanges with digital ones. Besides, from 2009, the implementation of broadband services, which is already high in the Moscow area, is expected to accelerate in the other largest areas of the country as well.

Italtel acts as the reference partner of Center Telecom (which counts 6.8 million installed lines, 6.3 million users in fixed telephony and 3 million in mobile) in the evolution of its network through the development of innovative services, reinforcing the collaboration that began in 2003.

In particular, Center Telecom has started developing, with the collaboration of Italtel, an infrastructure for video/voice communication and broadband wireless that is part of an important national project for the development of new services that address the communication requirements of Public Sector, Universities and Residential users.

The Italtel solution is based on the Softswitch i-MSS (Italtel Multi Service Solution) platform, which has been integrated in the core of Center Telecom’s network since 2006. This solution is the first step towards Next-Generation Networks (NGN) and the addition of advanced services like video telephony, IP Call Center and Wi-Max.

“Through the wireline and wireless broadband solution provided by Italtel, we are in the ideal condition to fulfill national projects like those called ‘Home’, ‘Education’ and ‘Public Health Services’, stated Ivan Mahov, CTO of the Orel branch of Center Telecom. “Thus, we will enable a wide range of potential users to access not only to the contents available on the Internet, but also to advanced services in real time like remote training, telemedicine, and video surveillance.”

“We are very happy that a qualified operator like Center Telecom has chosen our technology for the development of its network and for the achievement of communications projects that are part of national programs”, commented Antonio Cassese, EVP Sales Operation International Markets, Italtel. “Furthermore, we are pleased to have further strengthened our collaboration with Center Telecom by providing our consulting services to allow the migration of their infrastructure towards Next-Generation Networks and Services.”

Italtel SpA