Reliance Communications, Alcatel-Lucent Managed Services joint venture receives Global Telecoms Business Award

Reliance Communications, India’s largest integrated telecom service provider, and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE:ALU) today announced they had been awarded the prestigious Global Telecoms Business Innovation Award. Alcatel-Lucent Managed Services Ltd. (ALUMS), a joint venture between Reliance Communications and Alcatel- Lucent, has been chosen for Outsourcing and Managed Services Innovations among the world’s leading telecom companies. The coveted award is chosen by the readers of Global Telecoms, a leading telecom magazine, from innovative project initiatives undertaken globally that would define the present and future course of the industry.

“The recognition reflects the prudence of the first-of-its kind unique initiative jointly undertaken by a nationwide integrated telecom operator and a world leading telecom equipment & solutions manufacturer. It is indeed a privilege to be recognised with a prestigious Global award in the initial stages, as we set forward in our journey to become the world’s most preferred Network Managed Service Provider”,said Mr. Sandip Biswas, Head – Managed Networks, Reliance Communications.“The Global Telecoms Business Innovation Award, reflecting the views of the world’s leading telecom professionals, is the true indicator of the underlying need of global telcos to outsource their networks to enterprises with an in-depth and rich understanding of services as well as equipment businesses.”

“Alcatel-Lucent is a thought leader in managed services for telecommunications providers around the world, creating solutions that match the changing needs of service providers and enterprise around the world,”said Vivek Mohan, President Alcatel-Lucent, India.“We are pleased to see that others recognize the potential for our joint venture with Reliance as we seek to offer such compelling services offering to wireless service providers around the world.”

In May 2008, Reliance Communications and Alcatel-Lucent announced that they were combining their unique strengths to form a managed services joint venture to compete in the fast-growing US$16 billion (around Rs. 70,000 Crore) managed services industry to cater to telecom operators, both CDMA and GSM, across the globe. The first assignment of this joint venture is to manage the nationwide, fully IP enabled and integrated telecom network of Reliance Communications, a network that services some 20,000 towns and 4.5 lakh Indian villages. Alcatel-Lucent will have operational control of the joint venture and Reliance Communications will hold a substantial equity stake in the venture.