Alcatel-Lucent has won a major contract to deploy and operate a complete converged infrastructure for Vodafone Qatar, integrating the new fiber infrastructure with the mobile network in the country.

Alcatel-Lucent is a global leader in fixed broadband access supporting the largest mass deployments of video, voice and data services.

A major mobile operator, Vodafone Qatar has signed up Alcatel-Lucent as its sole supplier in its expansion into the fixed broadband market in Qatar.

The move is in line with Vodafone Qatar's plans to offer customers an integrated service, encompassing fixed and mobile, said a top official.

For this ambitious project, Vodafone Qatar has signed up Alcatel-Lucent, together with partner companies, to deploy an entirely new fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network, based on gigabit passive optical network (GPON) and point-to-point Gigabit Ethernet technology, said Jenny Howe, chief technology officer of Vodafone Qatar.

“Vodafone Qatar continues to be committed to bring innovations to our customers and to become the most admired brand in the country. Partnering with Alcatel-Lucent, we will now look to extend our service offerings across Qatar to fixed broadband – a major area of growth for our company,” she noted.

“Together with Alcatel-Lucent we will make a world of difference for all people in Qatar,” the official added.

Alcatel-Lucent said its IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) solution will be used to link the new infrastructure with Vodafone Qatar’s existing mobile network. This will allow services to be offered seamlessly through fixed and mobile connections without excessive cost or complexity.

Users will receive uninterrupted service and synchronization of enabling applications such as virtual office and VOIP solutions, with unified billing and charging - a clear incentive to unify their communications requirements with a single provider.

Vodafone Qatar will benefit from Alcatel-Lucent's broad and comprehensive managed services, network integration and project management expertise for the converged fixed and mobile network.

By leveraging Alcatel-Lucent’s experience in communications infrastructure management, Vodafone Qatar will be free to concentrate on identifying and delivering services that add value for their customers.

'This project with Vodafone Qatar is concrete proof that Alcatel-Lucent has what it takes to prepare our customers’ networks and operations for the challenges of the next decade,' said Adolfo Hernandez, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities in Europe, Middle-East and Africa.
 
'It leverages our worldwide leadership in GPON, our leadership in IMS and applications, more than 15 years of experience in network outsourcing and managed services,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service