NEW DELHI: Lucent Technologies has announced that it has signed a $31.1
million (Rs 140 crore) contract with Tata Teleservices Ltd., a
telecommunications service provider to build a broadband telephone network in
Andhra Pradesh. Under the agreement, Lucent will provide its technical expertise
and advanced telecommunications infrastructure equipment. The agreement was
signed between S Ramakrishnan, MD, Tata Teleservices, and Vijay K Gupta,
President and CEO, Lucent Technologies India Ltd.
"The new network that Lucent is building will form a high-speed,
high-capacity information expressway, unleashing the great potential of
broadband to our customers," said Ramakrishnan. "This advanced network
will provide our customers faster connectivity and access to rich media
applications such as multimedia and video-streaming tele-education."
Based in Hyderabad, Tata Teleservices will be able to offer its customers
services such as voice telephony, facsimile, ISDN, leased lines, toll-free
numbers, prepaid cards and premium calling services. The first roll out will
take place in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntur and Visakhapatnam followed by
Rajamundry, Eluru, Kakinada, Nellore and Tirupati. Gradually, the network will
expand to cover the entire state over the next 3 years. "Lucent's expertise
and in-depth understanding of the needs of new operators as well as its wide
gamut of broadband solutions were the key distinguishing factors that
contributed to our decision to choose Lucent. Lucent's cutting-edge technology
will enable us to significantly strengthen the telecom infrastructure of Andhra
Pradesh," added Ramakrishnan.
The contract will include such products as Lucent's 5ESS(r) Switch, AnyMedia
Access System, Intelligent Network services and advanced transmission systems.