PARIS, FRANCE: Alcatel-Lucent, a next-generation network (NGN) solution provider, and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) announced the commercial launch of the operator's first IP-based mobile next generation network (NGN) to offer enhanced services to residential and enterprise customers in Mumbai.

The mobile NGN solution, provided by Alcatel-Lucent, is 3G and IMS ready and will provide MTNL with substantial operator benefits in network optimization, bandwidth savings and reduced space and power requirements.

The deployment of Alcatel-Lucent's mobile NGN solution for MTNL supports the operator's leadership in the competitive market of Mumbai. It leverages common network hardware and software assets to provide MTNL with the network scalability and agility to migrate from a 2G to a 3G network and to IMS as the market needs justify it. The mobile NGN solution will significantly decrease MTNL's time-to-market for advanced mobile services.

R S P Sinha, chairman and managing director, MTNL, said: "MTNL's endeavours are focused on offering the latest technology and services to its customers. MTNL has been instrumental in providing the most competitive quality services to its customers and also keeping the market prices at affordable levels even for the common man. 3G services are going to revolutionalize the way we communicate and entertain ourselves."

Alcatel-Lucent's mobile NGN solution is based on a secure, distributed architecture that enables MTNL to flexibly address traffic growth, reduce operation costs and simplify network maintenance.

Vivek Mohan, managing director, Alcatel-Lucent India, said: "This win demonstrates the value of the long-term customer relationship and commitment of Alcatel-Lucent in India. Our undisputed technology leadership, innovation, and global knowledge and experience in telecommunications allows us to deliver a solution that positions our customers well to meet the challenge of increasing competition both today and tomorrow."

The mobile NGN solution deployment is a part of a multi year agreement under which Alcatel-Lucent is providing an end-to-end GSM/EDGE solution to MTNL. Services offered under the agreement include project management, consulting and design, installation and deployment, network operations, maintenance and integration and testing. Alcatel-Lucent has supplied more than 50 percent of MTNL's TDM switches and more than 2 million GSM lines to MTNL previously.