Alcatel Pilots 3G UMTS for Orange

7th May , 2004

Europe : At the opening ceremony of Orange France's "Villes Pilotes UMTS" project in Lille, Alcatel announced that it has been selected as the exclusive supplier of Orange France, with responsibility for integrating 3G services in the framework of the Orange's UMTS pilot cities of Toulouse, Lille and Cannes.

Inset is Marc Rouanne, COO of Alcatel's Mobile Communications Group who is quoted below.

In Lille, Alcatel also supplied and integrated the UMTS radio infrastructure and the circuit switched core network solution. In addition, Alcatel will ensure the optimization of the radio network and the ongoing operation and maintenance support for both radio and circuit switched core.

The services package developed and integrated by Alcatel for Orange's "Villes Pilotes UMTS" project includes fixed-to-mobile video telephony, web conferencing, video messaging, online gaming, a 3G video portal, a TV service package, webcam access, live sporting events and instant messaging services, with personal multimedia storage for 3G testers.

Alcatel has provided Orange with a comprehensive solution that includes the application servers and the hosting and turnkey operation of the service platforms, guaranteeing end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) and performance. To provide this enhanced new services offering, Alcatel worked hand-in-hand with various partners specialized in applications, content and handsets. Alcatel has also integrated all the new services into Orange France's information system.

"Alcatel is Orange's chief partner in the launching of the "Ville Pilotes UMTS" project in France" added Marc Rouanne, chief operating officer of mobile communications activities at Alcatel. "The launching of Orange's 3G services in Toulouse and Lille demonstrates Alcatel's ability to provide mobile operators with turnkey mobile solutions that render the technology transparent and place the end-user at the very center of 3G."

Orange has chosen Alcatel as its priority supplier for its 3G/UMTS network infrastructures in Europe. In France, Alcatel is the sole supplier for the deployment of the 3G/UMTS network that will cover the north and west of the country, Paris and the Paris region. The Orange Group has decided to step up its 3G/UMTS network deployment program in the United Kingdom by choosing Alcatel as second supplier.

In addition to this, Orange is using the open environment of Alcatel's 3G Reality Centres (3GRC) as a basis for the new "3G Developer Centres" created under its global-scale "Developers Programme". These centers are open to local developers - most often small companies - giving them the opportunity to develop innovative enhanced-content 3G services, and test them in true-to-life conditions in Alcatel's end-to-end 3G environment.

TODAY'S PRESS RELEASES
All Material Subject to Copyright. All logos, graphics and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Home ProZone Subscribe To Newsletter 3G Forum