No ones posted this here yet, so here it is:
biz.yahoo.com
Hughes Tele.com Selects Lucent Technologies to Build India's First Broadband Telephone Network
Contract Valued At US$175 Million
MUMBAI, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2000--Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU - news) today announced that it has signed a US$175 million contract with Hughes Tele.com (India) Ltd, a telephone services operator in the states of Maharashtra and Goa in India, to build the country's first genuine broadband telephone network.
Hughes Tele.com will be able to offer its business customers services initially in Mumbai, the financial capital of India, and in Pune, by the second quarter of 2000. The network will be expanded throughout Maharashtra and Goa over the next three years.
``We chose Lucent Technologies because it has the expertise and technology backing of Bell Labs, its research and development group, and an excellent in-country team to enable us to provide value and quality services to our customers'' said Prakash Bajpai, president and chief executive officer of Hughes Tele.com. ``In the era of 'convergence,' we are excited about the tremendous opportunity to provide a superior and comprehensive suite of telephony and Internet services over a genuine broadband data-centric network architecture, to the customers in the state of Maharashtra.''
Under the agreement, Lucent will provide its technical expertise including switching centers incorporating Lucent's industry-leading flagship 5ESS© switch, AnyMedia© Access Systems, AnyMedia Optical Networking Units (ONUs),Intelligent Network(IN) software and service management systems, power systems and support services including the construction of outside plant.
``We are delighted to be working with Hughes to provide them with an advanced telecom network for the people of Maharashtra,'' said Vijay Gupta, president and chief executive officer of Lucent Technologies India Ltd. ``We will combine the quality, reliability and functionality of Lucent wireline networks with our quick, cost-effective deployment as well as integration with existing Hughes network.
``With our complete suite of network solutions, we are in a good position to support Hughes Tele.com as it seeks to offer its broadband network services to its customers,'' said Gupta. ``We are committed to continue supporting our customers in their endeavors to modernize Indian telecommunications infrastructure and contribute towards India's economic growth.''
Currently, Hughes Tele.com has more than 22,000 lines in service and has embarked on a massive expansion plan covering all major cities of Maharashtra serving premium business and residential customers. In the next two years, Hughes plans to roll out more than 220,000 lines all over the state and expects to have more than 4 million lines installed in the next 15 years.
Hughes Tele.com is set to offer broadband wired and wireless services using state-of-the-art technology, including ``last mile'' optical fiber, and is positioning itself as a single platform for all communications needs. It also plans to establish itself as a major Internet service provider in the country and to develop itself into an Application Service Provider (ASP) for business customers.
Lucent will provide IN software and management systems that will allow Hughes to deploy a variety of enhanced services on its network, including Lucent's SurePay(TM) solutions suite that enables carriers to rapidly enter the lucrative and fast-growing pre-paid and calling card markets. Lucent will also supply its new Enhanded Virtual Private Network (eVPN) software, which allows enterprises to use a portion of a service provider's network as if it were a private corporate network.
Additionally, Hughes will deploy Lucent's OneVision© Network Fault Management (NFM) operations software to support its new network operations center in Turbhe. OneVision NFM will help Hughes detect, isolate and resolve problems in its network.
Lucent's 5ESS switch, a key element of Lucent's 7R/E(TM) Packet Solutions, is the industry's most reliable and widely deployed system in the world, providing service in 66 countries and serving as the foundation for next-generation networks based on packet technology. Lucent's AnyMedia Access system is a narrowband and broadband access system. It uses ``plug and play'' application packs that allow the mix of telephony and digital subscriber line (DSL) services to be changed at any time.
The outside plant building will use ``fiber to the building'' technology made possible by Lucent's AnyMedia ONUs. ONUs are compact units that are a quick, cost-effective way for service providers to offer high-speed Internet access, voice services , and video to customers. The unit brings fiber closer to the customer by connecting directly to their homes and businesses. About Lucent Technologies
Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and delivers the systems, software, silicon and services for next-generation communications networks for service providers and enterprises. Backed by the research and development of Bell Labs, Lucent focuses on high-growth areas such as optical and wireless networks; Internet infrastructure; communications software; communications semiconductors and optoelectronics; Web-based enterprise solutions that link private and public networks; and professional network design and consulting services. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit its Web site at lucent.com.
About Hughes Tele.com
Hughes Tele.com, a joint venture sponsored by Hughes Electronics Corporation and affiliates in the U.S., Alltel Corporation, USA and India's Ispat Group is a leading private sector telecommunications company. It has a license to offer fixed line telephone services in Maharashtra, one of India's most developed states.
Lucent is becoming our friend in a big way!
Perry P. |
