Alcatel Intelligent Network Solutions Gain Momentum in North American Marketplace. Global Crossing and U S WEST Wireless Choose Alcatel's Multi-Service, Multi-Vendor IN Platform for HLR and Other IN Services - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Feb 21, 2000

North American wireless and wireline service providers are turning to Alcatel's scalable, versatile Intelligent Network (IN) platform to deliver critical services ranging from enhanced 800-number to wireless Internet services.

Long a global leader in Intelligent Network technology with its solutions successfully running at more than 60 service providers in more than 30 countries, Alcatel's next-generation, convergence-ready IN platforms are already or will soon be deployed at Global Crossing and U S WEST Wireless.

"Alcatel already offers what other vendors are still promising: next-generation IN platform that can support data services and Internet Protocol (IP), which makes it an ideal platform for delivering uniform services across a multi-service, multi-vendor SS7 and packet-based network," said Mark Peterson, Vice President and General Manager of Alcatel's network applications activities in the USA. "Our recent wins in the U.S. prove the versatility of our IN platform, which is supporting HLR (Home Location Register) for both 800- and 1900-MHz markets, as well the first totally IP network; and enhanced 800-number and customized Virtual Private Network services. And this is just the beginning phase of Alcatel's IN presence as we target this market."

Regardless of the specific application, Alcatel's IN platform provides each operator with a switch-independent, service-independent platform to deliver voice and data services; unlike IN solutions that are linked to a specific vendor's switch, Alcatel IN can deliver the same services across different switches or networks. Operators not only save the operational costs of merging network intelligence onto a single platform, but gain a highly scalable, single platform that can support IN voice (enhanced 800-number, prepaid, HLR, Authentication Center) and data (packet-based) services, thus preserving their investment.

Global Crossing For Global Crossing, the Bermuda-based operator that is building an integrated global fiber optic network for high-speed data and voice services, Alcatel is providing an IN platform that will initially offer enhanced 800-number services. It will be expanded to support additional voice (such as calling card and VPN) and data IN-based services. Alcatel's IN solution gives Global Crossing a scalable platform that can grow along with the company's network capacity from 250 transactions per second (TPS) to more than 1000 TPS.

Global Crossing is using the versatile platform to bridge between its legacy and Next Generation network switches -- the Alcatel platform communicates with both SS7 and IP7 capabilities. It delivers a powerful service creation environment (SCE), enabling Global Crossing to design and deploy new revenue-generating services in minimal time and at lower cost.

For Global Crossing, Peterson states, "Our IN quickly integrates into a diverse network allowing Global Crossing to deliver advanced services which enables them to offer enhanced features to their customers."

The homologous Alcatel IN platform will also facilitate Global Crossing's aggressive international strategy, increasing speed-to-market abroad. Global Crossing's Alcatel-supplied IN services are scheduled to go live in the first quarter of the year.

U S WEST Wireless At U S WEST Wireless, the Denver-based Baby Bell that provides broadband and telecom services to its 14-state region and nationwide, Alcatel's Intelligent Network platform will play a key role in what is a technological "first" deployment of HLR service across a pure TCP/IP network (as opposed to a traditional SS7 network).

Running HLR applications in a TCP/IP environment will enable U S WEST Wireless to reap the benefits of the innovation (and resulting cost savings) occurring in the TCP/IP environment.

"U S WEST Wireless's deployment of Alcatel IN across a completely TCP/IP network demonstrates our currently available solution is optimal for both data and voice networks," said Peterson.

Alcatel was one of the prime vendors cited by U S WEST Wireless to help it design and deploy an advanced wireless network based on open-network technology allowing faster, more efficient delivery of wireless services. The new service was launched last November in Salt Lake City, Utah, and will eventually be rolled out to other U S WEST Wireless markets.

Global Crossing Ltd. (Nasdaq: GBLX) is building, and offering services over, the world's first global fiber optic network with 97,200 announced route miles, serving five continents, 24 countries and more than 200 major cities. The Global Crossing Network and its telecommunications and Internet product offerings will be available to more than 80% of the world's international communications traffic. Global Crossing hosts more than 300 of the top Internet brands at its Web hosting division, GlobalCenter. Among the brands are some of the largest and most densely trafficked sites on the Web, including Yahoo!, The Motley Fool, Ziff Davis, MP3.com and eToys. Global Crossing's operations are headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, with principal offices in Los Angeles, California; London, England; Morristown, New Jersey; and Rochester, New York.