CHENNAI, INDIA: Alcatel-Lucent announced the launch of a new, state-of-the-art IP Transformation Center (IPTC) in Chennai.

IPTC is the first centre of its kind in the sub-continent, the IPTC will develop, integrate and test end-to-end IP
networking solutions for Alcatel-Lucent's Indian and global customers as they migrate to next generation architectures.

Alcatel-Lucent's India IPTC enables service providers to design, test and integrate their solutions in a risk-free environment. It will help them shorten the IP transformation trajectory and their time to market while allowing them to keep costs under control and focus on serving their customers. The IPTC at Chennai hosts about 50 technologies.

The IPTC is networked with Alcatel-Lucent's existing IPTCs and network integration centres located in Antwerp, Belgium; Singapore; Murray Hill, Naperville and Plano in the USA, as well as with multiple R&D labs world-wide, including India. These centres, which share knowledge, resources and best practices, help service providers execute their IP transformation projects.

Vivek Mohan, managing director, Alcatel-Lucent India, said: "To survive in a hyper-competitive environment, service providers need to rapidly introduce new services, reduce operational costs, and enhance the customer experience.

In India, Alcatel-Lucent's R&D activities rely on 2,700 engineers and scientists working on 100,000 square feet of lab space. Alcatel-Lucent has established a Bell Labs research centre in Bangalore and has major software development centres at Gurgaon, Noida, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Alcatel-Lucent has also a joint venture with CDOT (Government of India R&D Telecom organization) based in Chennai for the development of broadband wireless access solutions like WiMAX.