Thomson Selected by SFR for its Broadband VoIP Telephony Project

Thomson’s products and solutions enables SFR to enter the fixed VOIP market to support its mobile centric strategy

Paris,– Thomson (Paris Euronext : 18453 ; NYSE : TMS) today announced that it has been selected by SFR, the second largest mobile operator in France, to provide a comprehensive broadband solution paving the way for SFR’s residential mobile centric strategy.

Thomson is deploying and integrating its Cirpack VoIP softswitch with SFR’s existing infrastructure to manage primary line telephony services. Thomson is one of the two suppliers of the triple play home gateways designed to support SFR’s range of broadband features.

This major project further reinforces Thomson’s leadership in the fast growing market of comprehensive solutions for VoIP, IPTV and interactive broadband services, which allow operators to converge into a global IMS architecture.

This contract leverages the one announced earlier this year about SFR deploying Thomson’s Cirpack VoIP softswitch to offer enterprise users innovative Mobile IP Centrex services with fixed-mobile convergence. Using Thomson’s systems and technologies for multiple play, SFR is now one of the first operator in the World offering such a range of fixed and mobile services with advanced converged features for both residential and enterprise users.

With over 5 million VoIP subscribers according to Dataxis, France is the world’s most competitive telecom market where every service provider is offering primary line telephony over broadband to replace legacy PSTN services. With over 17 million customers and strong fixed-line know-how thanks to its 40% interest in Neuf-Cegetel, the leading alternative fixed operator on the French market, SFR is now proposing to its customers its new mobile centric set of services using Thomson’s infrastructure solutions.

“SFR is the first pure mobile operator to launch converged services. We are delighted that SFR has chosen Thomson to build its new fixed-line services,” said Jacques Dunogué, Senior Executive Vice President, System division, Thomson. “The contract underpins Thomson’s leadership in the market of multiple play solutions and the Group’s commitment to provide operators and service providers with advanced IP platforms and devices enabling them to offer innovative services to their customers”.

“Thanks to Thomson technology we are now able to propose to our customers those new mobile centric services characterized by usage continuity, personalization, simplicity and quality, whatever the access technology, focusing on simplicity and customer satisfaction,” said Paul Corbel, SFR’s General Manager of Networks & Systems. “We were looking for highly reliable softswitch platforms and custom home gateways to easily build new services. We were very pleased with Thomson’s Cirpack solution we have already deployed for our Mobile IP Centrex.”