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Wellington and Paris: Telecom and Alcatel have agreed on a project to build the IP Voice platform for Telecom’s Next Generation Network.
With global broadband leader Alcatel, Telecom has embarked on the rollout of a new voice technology that will revolutionise New Zealand’s telecommunications infrastructure.
The project is the result of more than five years of planning and development, and is the next evolution of the Next Generation Network programme.
Telecom will invest $220 million in new network and system capability to support next generation services. The first residential customers will migrate onto the new network by early 2007 and eventually all of New Zealand’s 1.7 million customer lines will be transitioned to the new platform in 2012.
The investment is a critical milestone in the multi-year, $1.4 billion transition to a totally new network platform that will deliver triple play (voice, data and video bundle) services.
Telecom Chief Operating Officer Simon Moutter said the move marks a significant milestone in determining the technology direction of Telecom’s core IP Voice infrastructure for the next ten years.
“This is really fundamental for the future of telecommunications in New Zealand,” Mr Moutter said. “IP Voice technology is critical to achieving the goal of integrated and converged services.
“In relatively short order we will replace the entire PSTN and be delivering all our services for customers over the IP network. That has the potential to reduce costs for customers and put a lot more control and flexibility in customers’ hands, wherever they are – at home, at work or on the move.”
“We believe the Alcatel solution is the best international technology option for the rollout of Next Generation services to New Zealanders.
Andrew Young, CEO of Alcatel in Australasia, said Telecom’s IP Voice platform is the most advanced IP technology available.
“Telecommunications companies worldwide are keeping a close eye on what we are doing with Telecom in New Zealand. We’re setting a new benchmark for the transition from traditional to IP network services.
“Our two companies are working together to ensure that customers in New Zealand enjoy all the benefits of new IP enabled technologies.”
For the IP Voice platform project, Telecom and Alcatel are building:
• An IP Voice Call Control platform and Trunk Gateways to switch and process IP Voice traffic to and from the current PSTN
• ‘Border Security’ to prevent unauthorised access, detect and prevent security threats and provide voice security
• The capability to deliver an IP Voice Trunking product to connect enterprise VoIP systems to Telecom’s network
• Adaptation of Alcatel’s NGN solutions to the New Zealand environment, enabling the equipment to interoperate with other networks and billing and service management systems.
This project is part of Telecom’s wider NGN investment and builds on:
• The Telecom Alcatel Next Generation Technology partnering relationship established in 2002
• 24 months of architecture, planning and design
• $64 million of previous investment in an all IP Multi-Service Core (MSC) that enables integrated services
• Current Telecom business and residential customer IP Voice trials.
The Alcatel NGN solution for this new IP Voice infrastructure includes the Alcatel 5020 Softswitch platform that is designed to support the migration of PSTN network towards a full IP infrastructure. Additionally, the Alcatel 8690 Open Services Platform delivers next generation, multimedia services for end users. This solution will provide rapid development and deployment of high-value services for operators to generate new revenue streams ahead of the competition.
For more information, please contact:
John Goulter
Telecom Public Affairs Manager
04 498 9369 / 027 232 4303
Sarah Berry
Telecom Media Relations Executive
04 498 9481 / 027 470 7900
Anna Perrin
Alcatel Australasia Communications Manager
+61 404 024 253 /+61 2 8306 5575
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