Paris, May 21, 2002 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA), a world-wide leader in carrier-class network infrastructure solutions, today announced the availability and third-party lab validation of non-stop routing on the industry-leading Alcatel 7670 Routing Switch Platform. The announcement follows Alcatel's recent introduction of the Alcatel Carrier Environment Internet System (ACEIS), a combination of hardware and software integrated with Alcatel core networking products that enables non-stop routing for the three most common Internet protocols.
Validation was carried out by the test and evaluation centre at BTexact
Technologies, British Telecommunications plc's advanced research and
technology business.
"To support mission-critical IP services, operators need high levels of availability in their core networks, far different from the general requirements of the enterprise market from which routers emerged," said Stewart Davies, CEO, BTexact Technologies. "After thorough testing of the 7670 RSP, we can confirm that the product can achieve non-stop routing for BGP, IS-IS and OSPF* Internet protocols, a primary factor in achieving these availability requirements."
Telekom Austria's managing director Product and Technology Management, Helmut Leopold, said: "We selected the Alcatel 7670 RSP for its ability to combine multiprotocol core implementation on a single platform with optimum performance and future-proof technological opportunities. The introduction of non-stop IP routing to the 7670 RSP further enhances the attractiveness of the platform and supports Telekom Austria's vision of a scalable, reliable converged network architecture."
Non-stop routing enabled by ACEIS on the Alcatel 7670 RSP means that there is no downtime associated with routine software upgrades or corrupt routing information, common in today's IP networks. As a result, service providers can take advantage of a single platform, multiprotocol core that supports stringent service level agreements for IP and MPLS-based services including virtual private networks, as well as high revenue generators, such as voice, frame relay and ATM.
Bell Canada's general manager, Broadband Technology, Juan Manuel Ramos,
said: "Bell Canada believes that ATM, MPLS and IP will continue to coexist in the network core. The availability of non-stop routing on the 7670 RSP supports our vision of a multiprotocol core that protects our network investment."
"Service providers' need for dramatically improved IP reliability is rapidly moving from the back to the front burner," stated Susan Almeida, co-founder of management consultancy Network Strategy Partners, LLC. "Today's cost consciousness is exposing the tremendous hidden cost of today's poor reliability. Service providers also realize that high-density platforms - critical for profitability - need extra reliability to protect the massive amount of customer traffic that can now ride through a single
box. And, carriers' customers are demanding business continuity as more
and more of their business runs over IP networks.
"Products like the Alcatel 7670 RSP, which aim to ratchet up routing reliability by an order of magnitude, are exactly what the industry needs," added Almeida.
Non-stop routing, available as a standard software upgrade to 7670 RSP customers, enables service providers to reduce capital and operating expenses while leveraging incremental revenue from their existing network. Protecting the service provider's network investment by integrating ATM, MPLS and IP on a single platform is a hallmark of the Alcatel 7670 RSP, already deployed for more than 80 customers worldwide.
"The Alcatel 7670, managed by the Alcatel 5620 Network Manager, continues to deliver significant benefits by optimizing capital and operational expenses and enabling revenue-ready service delivery. With the introduction of non-stop IP routing through ACEIS on this flagship product, Alcatel
outpaces the competition to give established service providers a
carrier-class IP solution that offers premium payback," said Michel Rahier, President of Alcatel's broadband networking activities.
*Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Intermediate System to Intermediate System
(IS-IS) and Open Shortest Path First (OSPF).
About Alcatel
Alcatel designs, develops and builds innovative and competitive
communications networks, enabling carriers, service providers and
enterprises to deliver any type of content, such as voice, data and multimedia, to any type of consumer, anywhere in the world. Relying on its leading and comprehensive products and solutions portfolio, stretching from end-to-end optical infrastructures, fixed and mobile networks to broadband access, Alcatel's customers can focus on optimizing their service offerings and revenue streams. With sales of EURO 25 billion in 2001 and 99,000 employees, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.
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