Chinese operator launching multimedia services for fixed, mobile and web

Details: James Barton; Category: Consumer Ecosystems; 12 July 2011; 10216 views

Subscribers in six Chinese provinces will soon have access to a number of multimedia services, including IP-based voice, video and web services...

Subscribers in six Chinese provinces will soon have access to a number of multimedia services, including IP-based voice, video and web services. The operator China Telecom has selected Alcatel-Lucent to deliver multimedia services to subscribers in Shanghai, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Xinjiang and Sichuan provinces.

By converging different types of “media” – voice, video, and other data services - over a common IP platform, China Telecom will be able to bring a growing range of interesting and useful services to more than 120 million consumers and business users.

The deployment represents China Telecom’s first commercial use of IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) technology. Building on a successful trial in Shanghai and Shandong provinces, this project will play a significant role in helping China Telecom evolve its network from its legacy system – known as a PSTN -- to an all-IP infrastructure that operates on the principles of the Internet, making it much easier and less costly to operate.

“Our first large-scale commercial deployment of IMS is a critical step in our transformation to a much more flexible, cost effective all-IP network,” said XU Sui, Deputy General Manager of Network Development Dept. in China Telecom. “The world of communications is moving to more video, more streamed content from the web, more personalised services – we are building a network for this new world.”

Already the country’s biggest fixed network operator, China Telecom has experienced dramatic growth in its mobile business and is seeking to expand all of its services to all subscribers. Alcatel-Lucent’s IMS Solution will enable China Telecom to unify communications across fixed, mobile and the web, as well as ensuring it remains secure. These capabilities include: voice, video-conferencing, multimedia ringback tones, IP Centrex, SIP Push system, CDMA Anchoring, and terminal management.

In addition, China Telecom and Alcatel-Lucent will work together to develop advanced services, including unified network address book, presence, multimedia instant messaging (including SMS, text and video) and image sharing.