Alcatel-Lucent launches IP Transformation Center in Singapore

Alcatel-Lucent (Paris: Euronext and NYSE: ALU)today announced the planned launch of a new, state-of-the-art Internet Protocol (IP) Transformation Center (IPTC) in Singapore, to bolster its network of IPTCs worldwide. The first center of its scale in Asia-Pacific,the Alcatel-Lucent IPTC will develop, integrate and test end-to-end IP networking solutions to help operators and enterprises, faced with a very competitive environment in the region, to transform their networks to a full IP-based architecture, complete with best-of-breed products from a variety of vendors and strategic partnerships.

Supported by the Economic Development Board of Singapore, the Asia IPTC is expected to host about 50 technologies and employ approximately 80 professionals, representing an investment of up to 20 million Euros over three years. The new center will be co-located with the region’s first IPTV Competency Center, launched by Alcatel-Lucent in February 2006.

The Asia-Pacific IPTC complements the existing IPTCs and Network Integration Centers located in Antwerp, Belgium; Lisle, Illinois and Plano, Texas. These centers, which share knowledge, resources and best practices, help service providers execute their IP Transformation projects.

“Shortening the IP transformation period and ensuring seamless customer network migration are the prime objectives of our global IP Transformation Centers and Network Integration Centers,” said John Meyer, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s Services activities.“Our key asset for the execution of these network transformations is our project and technology management expertise delivered by a team of experienced services professionals worldwide.”

One of the inaugural initiatives the Asia IPTC will be working on is the roll out of critical infrastructure that will enable sophisticated Internet Protocol (IP) communications services for Companhia de Telecommunicações de Macau S.A.R.L. (CTM)’s business and consumer customers to realize the operator’s “Digital Macau” vision.

Announced last November, “Digital Macau” delivers a new generation of communications services that will keep pace with and support the Macau Special Administrative Region’s sustained growth. Next-generation network services will be provided in four key areas: mobile, broadband, high-speed data services and applications. Following its next-generation network services launch, CTM will further develop advanced services and bandwidth on demand, all with the differentiated quality of service necessary to meet the needs of its customers.

“It is essential for us to ensure that we have the capabilities required to meet our customers’ future needs for sophisticated IP-based communications services,” said Phil Green, Chief Executive Officer, CTM. “Only Alcatel-Lucent has the necessary expertise and experience to help us do so.”

Endorsing the center’s location in Singapore, Mr Chan Yeng Kit, CEO of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore said, “IDA welcomes Alcatel-Lucent’s decision to set up the Center in Singapore and use it as a base to serve its customers in the region. The Center will contribute to the infocomm ecosystem in Singapore and potentially seed the development of local independent software vendors and attract product development and system integration from Alcatel-Lucent’s partners. The presence of the Center will help develop a pool of highly-skilled network professionals.”

“Last year, Alcatel opened its first IPTV and Triple-Play Center of Competence for the region. Today, Alcatel-Lucent is opening its Asia-Pacific IP Transformation Center. We are grateful to Alcatel-Lucent for its strong vote of confidence by choosing Singapore for its advanced technology centers. It demonstrates Singapore’s attractiveness as an excellent Asia-Pacific hub for a broad spectrum of infocomm innovation activities: from R&D and content development to system integration and deployment of new services and solutions for global markets”, said Mr Ko Kheng Hwa, Managing Director of the Economic Development Board.

Alcatel-Lucent is already working on several major IP transformation, triple play and IPTV projects in the region, including SingTel’s IPTV trials conducted in October last year.