Alcatel-Lucent is transforming the regional networks of VimpelCom Ltd. Group, one of the world’s largest communications service provider groups, to support the introduction of the latest high-speed 3G mobile broadband entertainment and business services, and prepare for the future introduction of 4G LTE.
In Russia and other countries throughout the region demand is exploding for services such as high-speed Internet access, video and social networking on the move. To address this demand VimpelCom is upgrading its data transport and mobile backhaul networks in Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan with state-of-the-art Internet Protocol/Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) technology to support all of its mobile broadband and business service offerings. This transformation will give VimpelCom a simpler network structure, which will help improve performance and reliability, and reduce the cost of operations.
The project covers several regions in Russia as well as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and includes VimpelCom affiliates KaR-Tel LLP and SkyMobile LLC, which offer communications services under the Beeline brand. The companies have already finalized the deployment in Russia in the Moscow region and Siberia, and several cities in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Georgy Pisarenko, Head of Group Product and Platform Development of VimpelCom, said: “IP video, multimedia, and other high-bandwidth applications are becoming increasingly popular, which is driving requirements for greater speed, efficiency and performance. The deployment of an all-IP infrastructure from Alcatel-Lucent will reduce network complexity and cost, while increasing efficiency, and serves as an important step in an ongoing evolution to IP across all of our operations.”
Alexander Tikhonov, Head of Alcatel-Lucent’s business in CIS said: “This project further strengthens Alcatel-Lucent’s cooperation with VimpelCom, and will give the operator in Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan a significant advantage over the competition by providing them with a strong network foundation upon which they continue to innovate, introducing new services and increasing bandwidth in a cost-effective manner.”