June 2009 Archives

As any mobile operator will attest, the key to success today is staying ahead of the curve with regards to network reliability and, perhaps more importantly, service delivery. Certainly, when you consider the North American market, you see significant innovation on the application side, especially with the continued rollout of new 3G handsets. 

The focus, though is on the application, and how users can use their devices and the applications that run on them to create more efficient business and personal communications relationships.

But, if you head across the globe, the view is slightly different. It's well known that Japan and other APAC countries are well ahead of North American with their mobile technology, a fact that is underscored by the mantra TMC heard during a recent visit to NTT America, the Japanese mobile giant's North American subsidiary: "Ask not what you can do for your cell phone, but what your cell phone can do for you."

In other words, in addition to delivering new applications and services, the ultimate goal is to create a situation where the mobile device has a certain level of intelligence, such that it becomes a real-time part of users' daily lives, providing information and assistance without necessarily being prompted. The idea is to leverage the mobile network's strength to its fullest capacity -- a network that currently allows up to 7.2 Mbps download.

This approach, which focuses on the customer and not the device, is founded on the understanding that the customer is God -- loosely translated from a Japanese saying. Carriers like NTT Docomo understand that subscribers have a choice, and rather than handcuffing them with multi-year contracts, they adopt the approach that if they are able to provide the services and the network capacity and reliability, they will be successful.

On the network side, NTT Docomo has already been investing heavily in its infrastructure to ensure its service quality is as good as it can be. It also made a commitment some time ago to roll out its LTE network in 2010 to further extend its capabilities as new, bandwidth-intensive services are developed.

In order to facilitate that network migration, NTT Docomo has selected Alcatel-Lucent to build its backhaul network for its LTE-based services using the French-American firm's Ethernet transmission solution. 

Alcatel-Lucent, of course, was squarely in the LTE spotlight earlier this year, when Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. mobile operator, named it one of the key network infrastructure vendors for its LTE development. A key difference, though, is that, while LTE-based networks are said to be able to deliver speeds of up to 100 Mbps on the downlink, NTT Docomo's target is to triple that figure with what it calls a Super 3G network -- a deviation from the 4G moniker that has become popular in referencing LTE, as well as WiMAX.

"This selection is a strong endorsement of our innovation and forward-looking capabilities as we work closely with NTT DOCOMO to support its next generation backhaul network and its LTE strategy," said Sean Dolan, head of Alcatel-Lucent's activities in Asia-Pacific.  "Our solution is further proving its readiness to meet the challenges of current and future network requirements which enable users to consume more complex content at faster speeds."

With the solution from Alcatel-Lucent -- part of the company's Mobile Evolution Transport Architecture (META), based on its 1850 Transport Service Switch -- NTT Docomo will gain high-speed, flexible Ethernet-based aggregation and transport between base stations and its core network. It is designed to provide a cost-effective migration path to all-IP backhaul networks using a combination of packet and optical technologies -- required to handle increased service penetration and higher speed requirements.

With the new backhaul capacity and management capabilities, NTT Docomo will be able to more effectively deliver high-speed, bandwidth intensive services and applications reliably and securely.

Some of the fastest growing mobile services include video applications, which NTT Docomo already delivers on its existing 3G network, and which Hisao Inagawa, senior vice president at NTT Docomo USA,  says is a key area for increasing value to existing subscribers and attracting new ones.

The next phase of video, of course, is delivering high quality live mobile TV, which is all about increasing network capacity and developing relationships with content providers. With its LTE partnership with Alcatel-Lucent now in place, the path to that evolving its 3G network infrastructure to a true next generation communications network is in place, and the services are only a matter of time. That evolution or migration ­-- as opposed to a replacement model -- is one of the key selling points of LTE, and is a key part of Alcatel-Lucent's wireless strategy and, more specifically, its Ultimate Wireless Broadband End-to-End LTE Solution, as more and more mobile operators solidify their plans for the future.

It seems quite simple and, on face value it is. But in what is only becoming an increasingly competitive environment, customers enjoy an abundance of choices when it comes to their voice, video, and data services. Gone are the times when subscribers paid three monthly bills -- one to a telephone company, another to a cable provider, and a third to an ISP. Certainly, some still do, believing they are getting best of breed services still, while willing to absorb an additional cost to do so.

The service quality question between single- and multi-vendor subscriptions is certainly up for debate. With transport and access networks being migrated to all-IP infrastructures, the differentiation between service quality from one to the other is not only diminishing, but those providers that have developed high-speed IP networks are well positioned to provide high quality triple play services. Furthermore, they offer significant cost savings over the traditional one service per vendor model -- a fact that has become even more significant with the current economy.

What it comes down to, then, is the quality of the network and the service delivery architecture, which is where providers are looking to differentiate themselves, especially as they drive new features, applications, and services to market. In today's market, it really becomes a question of being able to deliver quality of experience for the subscriber.

When designing or upgrading their network infrastructures, service providers have to not only consider their need to distribute various services, applications, and media reliably across the network to countless users, but they must also address scalability concerns, due to subscriber growth as well as increased use of certain services, as we are seeing with video today.

That's precisely what AT&T sought to accomplish when it built out its delivery solution for its U-verse service, its triple play offering. U-verse is now available in 93 markets in 19 states, with more than 1.3 million subscribers to its video service. With the video market only expected to grow, AT&T has to ensure it is able to accommodate that growth, and has extended its contract with its network integration partner of choice, Alcatel-Lucent.

Using Alcatel-Lucent's Triple Play Service Delivery Architecture, AT&T has been able to integrate its U-verse TV service into its overall infrastructure, ensuring it can reliably deliver an expanding set of feature-rich services to its growing subscriber base.

TPSDA is designed specifically to meet the next generation needs of triple play service providers as they continue to transform their networks to handle increasing volumes of high-speed, bandwidth intensive applications. It is based on Alcatel-Lucent's carrier Ethernet and service aware technologies, allowing AT&T to cost effectively optimize its service delivery while allowing each network element to work at maximum efficiency.

Alcatel-Lucent's solution also brings the various technologies and devices together in a suite of subscriber and network management and security capabilities, providing AT&T with the control it needs to effectively maintain its services and accelerate the deployment of new services, while reducing operational costs. As AT&T introduces new services, Alcatel-Lucent also provides additional integration services and solution testing and validation capabilities, essential to an effective rollout.

AT&T has certainly increased its overall presence in the communications market, being the sole iPhone vendor in the U.S. As it looks to further increase its market share, particularly in the growing video and overall triple play spaces, it will continue to rely heavily on Alcatel-Lucent's technology. Fortunately, it has chosen to partner with a vendor whose fixed broadband expertise is unquestioned.

"As AT&T U-verse expands even further across the country, we are looking forward to continuing to provide AT&T with our multivendor, end-to-end network integration capabilities," said Robert Vrij, President of Alcatel-Lucent's Americas business.

Having said that, there are still many areas of the world, including rural regions of developed markets like the U.S., that don't have adequate wireless network coverage. The reasons are many, including the cost to build out networks in those areas, combined with a comparatively low number of potential subscribers. There are also concerns about the ability to effectively adapt networks to meet future growth demands.

Alcatel-Lucent, with its extensive portfolio of wireless infrastructure products, which are specifically designed to meet today's requirements while providing an easy and cost effective migration path for the future, seeks to help carriers overcome these pain points, and has been chosen by a Minnesota-based wireless wholesaler who shares the same vision.

NewCore Wireless is looking to extend next generation communications service to rural areas by building out its own wireless network, which other mobile providers, ICOs (Independent Communications Operators) and CLECs can leverage to increase their ability to serve underserved communities. NewCore's hosted wireless business model makes it possible for these local and regional network operators to leverage next generation technologies, without having to bear the full cost of building out the infrastructures.

"NewCore Wireless focuses on helping communications service providers in rural areas of the U.S. to overcome the technical and financial barriers to offering advanced wireless services to their customers, a market often overlooked by larger service providers," said Jim Jech, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for NewCore.

NewCore is deploying a 3G UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network, which will allow it to provide its customers the infrastructure they need to deliver next-generation services, including advanced multimedia, high-speed mobile broadband, video sharing, mobile Internet access, and any of the other mobile services that can be used with the latest generation of wireless devices.

Alcatel-Lucent's UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), a multi-standard radio access solution, will allow NewCore to deliver this access technology via its customers, using network controllers, base stations, and its wireless network management system, along with its IP service routers to provide the transport solution. Alcatel-Lucent will be involved in this network expansion from start to finish, providing design, installation, management, training, and rollout and integration assistance to ensure the process is seamless and efficient for both NewCore and its customers -- and, ultimately, the end users.

But when you consider the rapid pace of development of wireless technology, among the greatest benefits for NewCore comes from Alcatel-Lucent's consideration of future needs. It already is well positioned as an LTE vendor ­globally, including having been named as one of two key providers for Verizon Wireless' LTE buildout. This likely was a key consideration for NewCore. In order to ensure its own future revenues, it had to deploy a solution that would not only allow it to quickly roll out its services today, but one that can be easily scaled and transitioned to LTE as needed.

That's where Alcatel-Lucent's expertise shines. Its LTE model is one that not only delivers on the promise of next generation communications, but its Ultimate Wireless Broadband End-to-End LTE solution is one that offers a migration path from any 2G or 3G infrastructure, in addition to a broad range of ecosystem partners with device, application, and content expertise. 

Most wireless operators are still planning their future moves, and for them, as well as NewCore, a partnership that is based on building for the future makes sense. Alcatel-Lucent has designed its current wireless portfolio to support the transformation to all-IP, and to extend those capabilities with its LTE solution when the need arises. The key consideration is that the existing network, while equipped for today's users and services, will be easily transformed into the network of the future.

Today's converged all-IP solutions allow these providers to deliver new, bandwidth intensive multimedia services -- voice, video, and data --across networks that are not only more reliable and less expensive to operate, but also highly scalable to accommodate growth.  

Alcatel-Lucent allows service providers to deliver these new, enhanced services using its Triple Play Service Delivery Architecture (TPSDA), which is specifically designed to meet the high availability, high bandwidth needs of today's multimedia services -- far removed from the best effort solutions available to many subscribers. The key is that TPSDA -- which is already being used in more than 55 live deployments -- creates efficiencies across all network components, creating a more efficient end-to-end delivery mechanism, rather than focusing on a single part of the delivery network.

The latest provider to adopt Alcatel-Lucent's TPSDA is Kenya Data Networks (KDN), one of Africa's largest communications carriers, which is enhancing its service capabilities in 12 metro areas in Kenya to deliver higher quality and more reliable mobile, residential, and business services. 

The network upgrade includes deploying Alcatel-Lucent's GPON solution, which further extends the network equipment vendor's presence in the space, which saw a 30 percent growth in customer base in the past year.  In fact, Alcatel-Lucent has clearly stated its intention to continue to drive broadband adoption via multiple access technologies -- including optical networking.

According to Ovum, Alcatel-Lucent holds the number two position in the IP/MPLS Edge market globally, and leads the EMEA region, with more than 270 service providers in more than 100 countries already leveraging its technology in migrating their networks to IP-based next generation communications infrastructures.

These latest enhancements, which also include additional IP/MPLS service routers, will provide KDN with increased network resiliency, capacity, and flexibility, ultimately allowing it to bring new services to its growing customer base. With the increased network efficiencies, it will also be able to deliver increased QoS and overall performance, critical to effective triple play service delivery to both businesses and residential customers with varying needs and subscription packages.

Specifically, the deal calls for the deployment of Alcatel-Lucent's 7450 Ethernet Service Switch, several 7750 Service Routers, and the GPON-based 7342 Intelligent Services Access Manager Fiber-to-the-User platform. Alcatel-Lucent's GPON technology is already being used in 80 FTTH project globally, as network operators, like KDN, look to provide higher transfer speeds with increase reliability for their triple play services, along with QoS to meet SLA commitments to business customers. They also pave the way for future mobile services for KDN, as it seeks to become a truly complete source for its customers communications needs.

"We chose Alcatel-Lucent because of its technology leadership in GPON and IP-converged triple play services, as well as its reputation for performance and reliability," said Kai Wulff, CEO of KDN and Group Executive of Altech East and Central Africa.

On its surface, it may seem peculiar that so much emphasis is being placed on 4G solutions, when, as In-Stat reports, only 11 percent of current cellular subscriptions are 3G, which is merely a foundation for moving to LTE technology.  And even with growth to some 28 percent predicted by 2013, it may seem early to engage in heavy discussion.

However, we also know that vendors must be quick to develop and roll out new technologies.  After all, as TMC Chairman has often noted, being first to market is the key to success.  In addition, just as businesses are at various stages of migration to IP Communications, with many already having made the transition to all-IP, many mobile operators, who are looking to grow their networks and subscribers are looking to do so with an eye to the future.  After all, building out their networks is not an inexpensive venture, nor an easy one.  So, for many new and growing operators, making the move to LTE networks makes sense now.

LTE contracts have already been awarded in the U.S., Singapore, Japan, Norway, and Sweden, and though, as In-Stat notes, at such an early stage of development, it's hard to tell who the ultimate market leader will be, but Alcatel-Lucent is among those benefitting from these early deals and, with a history of providing quality networking solutions, stands to fare well as LTE matures.

Alcatel-Lucent is paving the way for next generation wireless with its Ultimate Broadband End-to-End LTE solution, which is designed to allow operators to deliver high bandwidth multimedia and Web-based services to the new age of wireless devices, including mobile handsets, laptops, and netbooks. 

The move to all-IP networks is about bringing new, increasingly advanced, yet intuitive services to market quickly and reliably, while limiting security risks and lowering operating costs.  Alcatel-Lucent provides a complete migration path with a solution that includes its Evolved Packet Core (EPC), its new transport solution (META), an open service delivery environment, as well as LTE-enabled radio access. 

Because it is able to provide a complete end-to-end solution, the company is easily able to become a valued partner, assisting with network planning, implementation and integration, as well as ongoing support once the initial installation has been completed.  In doing so, it also limits the complexities often encountered when operators have to deal with multiple vendors, who may not have fully compatible solutions.  Importantly, in addition it provides a migration path from any existing radio access technology, including GSM, CDMA, even WiMAX, or any number of others.  That ability comes from its history of providing multiple network architectures, and will serve it will at a time when diverse product portfolios are likely to drive increased market share.

In addition to the network iteslf, Alcatel-Lucent customers will be able to leverage ng Connect, a program launched by the company to create an interoperable ecosystem of devices, content, and applications, allowing operators to even more rapidly deliver new products and services to their subscribers.

So yes, it's true that most networks are still not even at the 3G stage, but having the foresight to develop future-proof networks today will provide a competitive edge to cutting edge operators.

When it comes to the network operators, most media attention is on the core network architecture, which effectively is the brains of the network, including applications and network hardware that allow delivery of services to those users.

Equally important, however, as operators move to all-IP networks in order to deliver the advanced voice, video, and data services they are introducing -- and for which the new generation of endpoints is being developed -- is the transport network between the localized edge networks and the core. In order to truly leverage the benefits of an IP infrastructure, providers must also look to upgrade their backhaul networks. After all, having the latest technology at either end of the network does little good if the links between them can't accommodate it.

Alcatel-Lucent has a long history as an end-to-end infrastructure vendor, and is driving the move to all-IP networks with its broad set of solutions, which includes its Mobile Evolution Transport Architecture (META), which integrates multiple transport technologies into a single end-to-end network architecture to accommodate the growth in network traffic for its customers.

One of those customers, FPL FiberNet, provides network services across its longhaul and metro fiber networks throughout much of Florida. Looking to create a more reliable network for its Ethernet-based services, FPL FiberNet chose Alcatel-Lucent's META solution to increase bandwidth for its growing mobile backhaul needs, while also keeping a close eye on operating costs.

"Wireless backhaul, which transports data and voice traffic between wireless base stations and the broader network, is an example of a new opportunity where we can leverage our existing network and customer relationships to expand services," explained Carmen Perez, President of FPL FiberNet

Leveraging wireless technology in the backhaul network, of course, provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional solutions, due to easier and faster deployment as well as significantly lower maintenance costs. META provides an easy migration to all-IP transport, enabling reliable roll-out and delivery of next generation communications services and supporting any last mile access technologies.

"As the market moves from optical services to more packet-based services, FPL FiberNet is strategically investing in equipment that allows us to have a seamless transition to all-IP," added Perez.

To accommodate that transition, the FPL FiberNet deployment includes Alcatel-Lucent's 1850 Transport Service Switch, which allows FPL FiberNet to aggregate and transport multiple types of traffic -- from SONET to Ethernet to packet -- across its single architecture.

As the market continues to move to all-IP infrastructures, the need for cost effective backhaul is only going to grow. Alcatel-Lucent will look to leverage its market presence along with META's ability to help network operators deliver increased bandwidth at lower costs, without sacrificing quality of service. At the end of the day, it's service quality that matters -- more than anything else.

Likewise, equipment vendors are equally hard pressed to achieve sustained growth, but it is possible, as evidenced by Alcatel-Lucent's results from Q1 2009, when it shipped more than five million DSL lines, accounting to more than one-third of the market, according to Dell'Oro Group. That growth brings Alcatel-Lucent's DSL line shipment total to more than 190 million, which also keeps it atop the global leaderboard, despite a slightly smaller growth figure than in the previous quarter. 

Notable statistics from Dell'Oro on Alcatel-Lucent's DSL market share include:

• The top spot in the North American DSL market, with nearly a 60 percent share, three times its closest competitor;
• 49 percent of the EMEA DSL market, more than doubling its closest rival;
• It owns more than 63 percent of the DSL market in the rest of the world, again, more than three times its closest competitor;
• 50.3 percent of the global VDSL market, up nearly 15 percent in Q1, amounting to more that four times its closed competitor.

Not only is its growth and overall market share competitively notable, since it comes at the expense of Alcatel-Lucent's competition, but at a time when service providers are more cautious than ever with their investments, retaining the top position provides it increased leverage when the economy finally revives. Having now also expanded its VDSL market share -- VDSL, of course, is the higher speed successor to DSL -- Alcatel-Lucent is making it increasingly difficult for competitors to close in on its market share lead, as the company has clearly stated its intention to continue to drive broadband adoption via multiple access technologies, including optical networking, where it has also seen growth -- it has expanded its GPON customer base, by 30 percent in year-over-year analysis.

The company says it now has more than 95 FTTH deployments under way, 80 of which are GPON-based. Its fiber customer base includes notable names like Verizon, France Telecom, Portugal Telecom, and Hong Kong Broadband Network, speaking to its ability to serve some of the most demanding providers in the world.

"Our sustained leadership in fixed broadband access builds, to a great extent, on our continuous innovations," says Dave Geary, President of Alcatel-Lucent's Wireline Networks activities.

In addition to a broad fixed line portfolio, that commitment to innovation also extends to the wireless market, notably the 4G space, where it has positioned itself well, with a product portfolio that includes both WiMAX and LTE, which necessarily increases its market opportunity, unlike those competitors who have chosen one wireless technology.

Its ability to provide not only fixed line solutions, but also a range of wireless alternatives, offers Alcatel-Lucent an opportunity in both developed and emerging markets, but also means it can compete for nearly any broadband contract. That, in and of itself, positions the company well as the ongoing recession (hopefully) heads into its last stretch.

New developments, are a different story, however, as it's nearly impossible to make a case for anything other than an all-IP network solution. In that instance, the case becomes finding the best value -- the combination of a quality solution and an effective, future-proof solution. It's safe to say, though, that when the communications network is part of a $4.5 billion dollar development, that choice leans heavily towards the capabilities of the solution, as in the case of the new Resorts World at Sentosa, a 121-acre resort set to open on Singapore's vacation island of Sentosa early next year.

The property will include at six hotels, a casino, the new Universal Studios Singapore, a Marine Life Part, Maritime Experiential Museum, the Equarius Water Park, and a number of other entertainment and dining opportunities -- a truly all-encompassing vacation experience.

As you can imagine, communications at such an expansive new set of facilities designed to offer the ultimate vacation spot must be first class it the experience is to meet expectations. After all, the ability of some 2,000 staff and administrators to effectively meet the needs of its customers will hinge upon their ability to communicate. This includes not only voice communications, but enhanced video and data as well, supporting everything from a reservation system and other basic guest services to casino surveillance and other resort-wide security services and more.

If you've ever been to a major hotel and casino, you can likely imagine the importance of communications to just that facility. Then add all the other attractions, and that complexity is increased exponentially -- which is why an established communications network vendor is required, one that has the experience and the solutions to build such a network, and support it.

For Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), that partner is Alcatel-Lucent, which will design and deploy the advanced infrastructure that will support the resort's extensive needs, including a state of the art Unified Communications solution for staff and guests, as well as a contact center solution.

Alcatel-Lucent certainly falls into the "established vendor" category, having a long, global history, when you consider its previous separate entities -- Paris-based Alcatel and the U.S. firm Lucent Technologies, which merged back in 2006 to create the new global giant. 

Since then, the firm hasn't been without its struggles -- though it's certainly not been alone in that respect, when you consider the layoffs and earnings reports at many of the world's leading businesses. However, it has also not stopped looking towards the future with a positive outlook and, as CEO Ben Verwaayen recently noted, the most recent quarter was about "putting together the new Alcatel-Lucent."

Any merger of two large global businesses is bound to come with its share of trials and tribulations, but Verwaayen added he is "pleased with the customer response to our new direction and strategy. Their confidence in our capabilities is strong, as illustrated by our recent wins in 3G and LTE, as well as the encouraging increase in our order intake in both North America and Asia Pacific."

Speaking on behalf of one of those APAC customers, Mr. Yap Chee Yuen, senior vice president of Information Technology for RWS explained, "We chose Alcatel-Lucent for its broad product, services expertise as well as global presence."

The key, for RWS, was that, in addition to its expertise in providing a solution, it also has the ability to support the deployment post-deployment, becoming a long-term partner, rather than merely an equipment vendor. Specifically in the hospitality space, Alcatel-Lucent previously developed similar networks for well-known brands like, The Mandarin Group, M Hotel, the Ascott Group, and The Amara Group, giving it the experience a new venture like RWS requires as it moves towards its opening next year with 1,800 guest rooms and more than 3,000 phones.

Some of the notable features of the Alcatel-Lucent solution include:

• Alcatel-Lucent Hotel Link (AHL) -- The solution allows a centralized link to the property management system across all the properties;
• Military-grade Encryption -- For secure IP communications throughout the casino, hotels, and administration network;
• OmniTouch Unified Communications -- Provides administrators and back-of-house users with a feature-rich desktop interface, including seamless integration to email, fax server, voice mail, and My Teamwork notification server;
• OmniTouch Contact Center -- Offers visual IVR and a graphical interface for simplified and more efficient contact center operations.

Importantly, as any next generation communications solution should, the system also is easily upgradable, as future needs require, including plans to add enhanced capabilities into the guest room communications system.

Certainly, the hospitality space isn't the only area of expertise for Alcatel-Lucent -- it's only a part of its overall strategy to deliver the latest next generation communications solutions to businesses in any vertical market. But, its experience in this particular space, which boasts some of the most demanding communications environments in the world, should provide a real advantage as it continues on its mission to "transform communications for a world that is always on."

Clearly, a number of service providers and equipment vendors already have their stake in the ground with regards to either technology, having taken a stance on way or the other.  Some vendors, however, like Alcatel-Lucent, recognize that a market exists for each and, rather than opting for one over the other, have opted to embrace both opportunities.

Certainly, Alcatel-Lucent's big splash in LTE, of course, came back in February, when Verizon named it one of a select group primary network vendors for its LTE rollout in the U.S.  Alcatel-Lucent followed that up with the introduction of a new software module to support network operators' rapid deployment of LTE technologies.

At the time, Paul Larbey, head of Next Generation Mobile Access activities for Alcatel-Lucent, noted that, "The introduction of this LTE software offering highlights our focus on bringing the latest innovations to market to help mobile operators give their customers a superior mobile broadband experience."

But, the company has balanced its efforts in LTE with a commitment to WiMAX, which, despite the arguments of many, currently has the edge, based on existing deployments.  As for Alcatel-Lucent's place in the market, Infonetics, earlier this year, named it among the top mobile WiMAX vendors.

"Rev-e [802.12e, the current version of the WiMAX standard] is the best wireless broadband technology currently available, and is ideally suited to address the Enhanced Wireless DSL market segment which includes data-centric mobility usage on netbooks and mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), as well as residential and nomadic PC use," according to Mike Iandolo, President of the Wireless Networks Division for Alcatel-Lucent.

Alcatel-Lucent has already announced a number of WiMAX contracts -- 36 deployments in total, of which 15 are already in service, which it says is more than any competing infrastructure vendor.  The latest is a deal with GDS in Lebanon, bringing the total paying user base of its WiMAX technology to more than 100,000 -- a figure it says is expected to grow rapidly.

At this week's WiMAX Forum Global Congress in Amsterdam, it reaffirmed its commitment to the technology, leveraging one of its live deployments (with Worldmax) to demonstrate downlink speeds up to 16Mbps, which is half of what the network is expected to deliver before the end of the year. 

In driving the growth of WiMAX, and next generation wireless networking, in general, Alcatel-Lucent doesn't stop with selling the equipment.  Rather, it provides its customers a full deployment partner, providing a full set of end-to-end deployment services, including network design, installation, integration and optimization, network operation, all the way to continued customer care and integrated billing services.

Now that it has this week focused on its WiMAX strategy, Alcatel-Lucent is shifting its focus to next week's Mobile 2012 Virtual Tradeshow, where it will highlight its LTE strategy, which, aside from offering an alternative technology to WiMAX, comes with equal support for its customers from planning through deployment and beyond.

So, while it's clear that various industry pundits and participants are staunchly in one corner or the other, network operators faced with the decision as to which 4G technology to choose can at least sleep peacefully, knowing that, in Alcatel-Lucent, they have a willing -- and more than capable -- partner whichever path they choose.

On a broader level, it is really about enabling a multi-device communications experience, which has increasingly come into vogue with the proliferation of mobile devices over the past several years.  But, that's really only the beginning.

The future of communications providers really lies in their ability to extend all forms of communications and multimedia content to multiple devices, such as the television monitor, the desktop, and the mobile device to deliver a true multi-screen experience.

As multimedia fixed and mobile service bundles grow in popularity, service providers are constantly seeking for the next great application or service, and subscribers are constantly asking for new capabilities, often around the integration of these services across multiple devices.  Of course, service providers should be keen on taking advantage of this trend because the ability to access services across multiple devices creates a highly sticky experience. 

When Microsoft launched its unified communications experience back in October of 2007, the idea was to provide the ability to access communications services on anywhere, at any time, on any device.  That same basic concept is what Alcatel-Lucent's multi-screen experience delivers.  For service providers, it allows them to deliver personalized services that heighten the user experience.  For the subscriber, it enables moving between locations and devices with the ability to access their content on any of them.  Alcatel-Lucent calls it a "Network^me," or "Network to the power of Me" experience. 

 

Of course, the ability to deliver this level of freedom across network types and devices isn't easy.  It requires enhanced network intelligence that allows the network to "know" subscriber preferences, devices, service provisioning, and more.  The real key, however, is to connect this intelligence ubiquitously across all the different delivery networks and access devices at once and in real time.

A recent study commissioned by Alcatel-Lucent supports the theory, suggesting that providing a multi-screen experience would significantly increase subscriber loyalty by as much as 40 percent -- meaning that subscribers would be 40 percent more likely to stay with their existing provider.  In a time when unsigned subscribers are becoming increasingly difficult to find, the ability to retain customers in a highly competitive environment is a must.

But the results imply an even greater opportunity for multi-screen service providers, as consolidating services on a single provider also implies a willingness to interact more intimately with that provider, increasing up- and cross- selling opportunities as well as providing more advertising potential.  Quite simply, having access to customers on multiple devices across multiple formats increases ad impressions within a target audience.

Again, this all takes an end-to-end IP network capable of understanding where the customer is and what he is doing, as well as delivering content and applications regardless of where he is and on what device.

Alcatel-Lucent is leading the charge in this space, developing next generation communications solutions that will enable network operators to stay ahead of the curve, enabling this kind of freedom of movement across devices while retaining consistency of content.  It also understands that implanting a multi-screen solution will be as unique as their subscribers, and is prepared to work hand-in-hand with providers to develop solutions that will allow them to cater to the needs of their competitive markets and subscriber demographics.

To begin executing on the multi-screen vision, start by discussing the wireless component with experts from Alcatel-Lucent on June 11, where they will be on hand at the Mobile 2012 Virtual Tradeshow.  At Alcatel-Lucent's virtual booth, you'll have the chance to consider the latest trends in mobile multimedia services, applications, and content, as well as advertising and network technologies -- and how you can leverage those trends to create stickier, more personalized services on your way to a multi-screen solution. 

The time is now to ensure your network is truly next generation, and not this generation.  Register now for Mobile 2012 now to begin drawing your network transformation roadmap.

Alcatel-Lucent, with its Bell Labs facilities, however, is looking to respond to the need for broadband access in remote and otherwise inaccessible areas.  Specifically, the company has launched what it says is the first alternative energy laboratory and pilot site in the world targeting the telecom industry in its Bell Labs site in Villarceaux, France, part of it Alternative Energy program.

Through this program, Alcatel-Lucent hopes to drive broadband access into rural areas, even those that fall outside commercial power grids, by developing energy-autonomous and efficient -- green -- wireless networking technologies that will help network operators overcome obstacles to providing broadband access.

The facility includes a wireless base station, powered by a hybrid system comprising solar panes and wind turbines -- as such it creates a power source independent of the power grid.  Researchers are also studying the potential use of other alternative energy sources, including fuel cells and bio-fuels.

 

"The site offers Alcatel-Lucent and its customers and its industrial, institutional, and academic partners, the ability to analyze, test and validate the solutions proposed by the dynamic, but fragmented, alternative energy sector," said Rich Garafola, director of Sustainable Power solutions at Alcatel-Lucent.  "It is also a center for people within the company and outside to discuss and try out new ideas to bring the world of telecoms and that of alternative energy closer together."

The company's Alternative Energy program not only addresses the need for exploring non-traditional power sources, both to conserve costs and support the growing green movement that is overtaking the telecom space, it also seeks to allow network operators to extend their reach to subscriber bases that have previously been outside their grasp.

In fact, Alcatel-Lucent says more than one billion people currently reside in areas not served by power grids -- meaning they not only lack broadband access, but also seemingly simple amenities like phone service, which severely limits their social and economic growth potential.  Through its Alternative Energy program, Alcatel-Lucent -- which has already deployed more than 300 alternative energy powered radio sites -- hopes to bring its solutions to the mass market, with a goal of deploying more than 100,000 such wireless base stations by 2012.

This goal fits in well with its participation in the Mobile 2012 Virtual Tradeshow, which is set to deliver an outlook on the evolution of the wireless market through 2012 and beyond.  Part of this virtual event, taking place June 11, 2009, from  9:00am-5:00pm ET, will focus on how operators can reach previously unreachable customers using the latest mobile technologies, while increasing their network efficiency without an exorbitant increase in footprint or operating cost.

In addition to Alcatel-Lucent's alternative energy solutions, attendees will have an opportunity to engage the company to learn about it entire outlook on the future of wireless communications, including how they can leverage the company's technology to evolve their service delivery capabilities to meet the growing demands of subscribers. 

To learn how Alcatel-Lucent can help operators deliver on their commitments to their subscribers, register now.  Not only is Alcatel-Lucent prepared to help operators extend their reach into underserved areas, but it also is driving the growth of the next generation of wireless networking with its LTE technologies, designed to enable the efficient delivery of all the latest wireless services well into the future.  

The mobile market has come a long way since then, with new devices and services being introduced at an often frantic pace.  But, the one thing that remains constant -- and it's what drives subscribers to replace their handsets more frequently than they otherwise might -- personalization.

Personalization at the device level is one factor, and at times, it can prove highly beneficial for mobile operators.  One only need look at the adoption rate of the iPhone and then the BlackBerry Storm to understand that subscribers' preferences are being reflected their choice of devices.  In fact, Sprint is hoping --perhaps against hope -- that its six-month exclusive with the Pale Pre will help significantly grow its subscriber base.

That, however, isn't an effective way to create a stable subscriber base -- let alone a growing one.  Instead, mobile operators must find ways to leverage the affinity for personalization at an even more intimate level -- the application layer. 

This requires to, perhaps equally important components.  Operators must be able to not only collect as much user data as possible regarding their mobile usage, but they must also understand how to effectively leverage that data.  Understanding which new services and applications to introduce is important, but carriers will find much greater return on their new launches by understanding how to roll them out. 

It means having the ability to analyze complex sets of subscriber data to identify subscriber groups and, most importantly, the most influential members of those groups.  Mobile applications (and devices, for that matter), are highly viral in nature, and knowing which subscribers are most dominant within their communities can pay off in spades.

Of course, being able to glean that level of detail from subscriber data is only part of the challenge.  The other requisite component is having the network resources to deliver next generation services and applications reliably and efficiently.  While service adoption is extremely viral, subscriber churn is equally susceptible to the influence of friends and family members, and with new devices and enticing offers available from all carriers, an inability to deliver on promises will go a long way towards creating a less than stellar reputation.

Knowing that, it is incumbent upon network operators to not only ensure their networks are capable of delivering their existing offerings, but to also ensure their viability into the foreseeable future.  Which is why many, including Verizon Wireless, are already looking at deploying LTE (Long Term Evolution) technologies as a way of mapping out their network growth plans.

An end-to-end LTE solution, such as that developed by Alcatel-Lucent, allows operators to evolve their existing 2G and 3G networks into all-IP infrastructures capable of delivering the latest multimedia applications quickly and reliably.

Alcatel-Lucent CEO Ben Verwaayen noted that the increased bandwidth enabled by LTE, along with its natural ability to co-exist with existing 3G infrastructures, are the foundation for the next generation of communications networks, enabling the economical evolution from 3G to 4G to enable new, innovative, sticky service offerings that operators can leverage to drive subscriber loyalty.

LTE brings to the mobile market data speeds comparable to traditionally faster fixed-line networks, with reduced latency, to ensure an increasingly positive user experience when accessing the real-time multimedia services that are driving the application developer community.  Indeed, moving to LTE will enable mobile operators to deliver a competitive user experience through a combination of performance, quality, and coverage.

To find out more about Alcatel-Lucent's LTE solution, along with how operators can leverage it to take advantage of the latest applications trends, including how to capitalize on the desire for personalization, join the company at the Mobile 2012 Virtual Tradeshow, an online experience on June 11, 2009.

Of course, you will have the opportunity to personalize your own experience at the event when you visit Alcatel-Lucent's virtual booth for real-time conversations with Alcatel-Lucent's LTE experts.