Deliver Your News to the World

Alcatel-Lucent and Regione Liguria sign an agreement to bring expertise and solutions to help bridge region’s Digital Divide


WEBWIRE

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) and Regione Liguria have signed an agreement to extend broadband coverage in the remote areas of the region to help bridge the digital divide. Claudio Burlando, President of Regione Liguria, and Stefano Lorenzi, head of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities in Italy, Israel and Malta, announced the agreement today during a press conference held at Regione Liguria’s headquarters.

Regione Liguria will leverage Alcatel-Lucent’s expertise in developing wireline and wireless solutions as well as its professional services and applications capabilities. This cooperation also calls for the participants to promote better understand of technology, which is seen as a pre-requisite to help smooth the development of the Information Society.

This agreement confirms Alcatel-Lucent’s commitment to Liguria. In 2005, with the contribution of FILSE, the regional government’s organization responsible for the execution of economic and social policies, the company opened a research and development centre in Genoa dedicated to optical transport technologies, thus reinforcing the presence of its optics activities, headquartered in Italy.

In Genoa, Alcatel-Lucent - the leader in the optics market since 2001 according to analyst firm Ovum RHK - develops leading edge products designed to appeal to a worldwide market, with a particular focus on the U.S. market.

At the same time Alcatel-Lucent became part of SIIT (Sistemi Intelligenti Integrati Tecnologie – Integrated Intelligent Systems Technologies), which is the technological district for Intelligent, Integrated Systems* and developed a network of relations with local entities, in particular with the University of Genoa.

“The cooperation between Regione Liguria and Alcatel-Lucent is in the framework of the effort made by Regione Ligura to overcome digital divide in its territory” said Claudio Burlando. “We have a specific commitment: to accomplish broadband coverage of the entire territory by 2009, and to provide enterprises, public administrations, entities promoting culture and young people –those that use Internet – with this fundamental service. The agreements between public and private - growing in number – are meant for guaranteeing the best service to the end users and for assuring a fair competition. Regione Liguria not only supports the extension of broadband in areas not covered by private operators, but it is also committed in investing in contents.”

“Since the beginning we believed in the potential of Genoa’s territorial system,” said Alcatel-Lucent’s Stefano Lorenzi. “The cooperation we announced proves that this vibrant local community supports the skilled engineers who can fuel the advancement of technological infrastructures and broadband applications that ultimately can contribute to the development of the whole economic system, as well as enterprises and universities.”

* The technological districts are regional poles of excellence for research and innovation, focused on specific sectors, which are designed to attract economic and scientific resources and increase competitiveness, development as well as industrial technical expertise in a territory.



WebWireID74002





This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.