Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) has selected Alcatel-Lucent to upgrade its backhaul network ahead of future LTE deployment. The vendor will provide its WDM solution for the Russian operator’s optical transport network in metropolitan areas, allowing MTS to increase network performance and backhaul capacity to meet bandwidth demand over time.

Alcatel-Lucent will deploy WDM in four federal districts of Russia: Moscow, the north-west, the south and the Volga region, initially covering four cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Rostov and Ufa.

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that OJSC Mobile TeleSystems (“MTS” – NYSE: MBT), the leading telecommunication operator in Russia and the CIS, has selected Alcatel-Lucent’s WDM solution for its optical transport network in metropolitan areas. The project will enable MTS to increase its network capacity, flexibility, speed and enhance quality of service.

The resulting increase in the backhaul capacity and transport efficiency allows MTS to optimize the delivery of bandwidth-hungry 3G services and prepare its network for LTE technology introduction.
Under the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will deploy its WDM networking solution in four federal districts of Russia: Moscow, the north-west, the south and the Volga region and will cover initially the following four cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Rostov and Ufa.

“To prepare our urban transport network for the challenges of data traffic increase due to development of fixed communication networks, 3G and future LTE introduction we looked for a solution capable to support profitable Internet growth while controlling costs and ensuring a quick return on investments,”said Oleg Larionov, Transport network Director at MTS Group. “Alcatel-Lucent leading-edge solution can help us transform our existing network and scale as demand grows”.
“The tremendous growth of 3G services is the key driver of service providers’ network transformation initiatives and their demand for reliability, scalability and cost-efficiency,” said Alexander Tikhonov, Head of Alcatel-Lucent’s business in CIS. “Alcatel-Lucent’s state-of-the-art optical transport solution meets the MTS need for meeting bandwidth growth, while optimizing its total cost of ownership and expanding the revenue-generating potential with more dynamic service options.”

The Alcatel-Lucent solution is based on its 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) which offers a highly flexible and easy to operate platform for automated WDM networking to dynamically meet traffic demand evolution. Initially operating at low rates, the MTS network can cost-effectively scale up to 100 Gigabit per second (100G). In addition, it will provide a solid foundation for storage area network deployment.

More about the Alcatel-Lucent solution

Based on its unique Zero Touch Photonics approach, the Alcatel-Lucent 1830 PSS, managed by the 1350 Optical Management System will help MTS to lower transport-network costs by eliminating unnecessary optical-to-electrical-to-optical (OEO) conversions. As part of the solution, Alcatel-Lucent is also providing a suite of comprehensive services such as installation and commissioning services and provisioning that will ensure smooth integration of the solution.

About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU)

The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises, strategic industries and governments around the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leader in mobile, fixed, IP and Optics technologies, and a pioneer in applications and services. Alcatel-Lucent includes Bell Labs, one of the world's foremost centres of research and innovation in communications technology.
With operations in more than 130 countries and one of the most experienced global services organizations in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach.

The Company achieved revenues of Euro 16 billion in 2010 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.
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