IEC BROADBAND WORLD FORUM EUROPE 2006, Paris, October 11, 2006 - Italtel, leader in the development and integration of next generation IP network products and services, today announced a new joint solution with Cisco Systems to help service providers address the rapid growth in the managed IP communications services market. The Integrated Networked Business Voice Solution (IN-BVS) gives service providers the capability to offer a rich portfolio of managed and hosted solutions, facilitating the adoption of advanced Unified Communications services for businesses of all sizes.
The recent advances in Unified Communications services from Cisco integrate previously disparate communications channels and devices, such as instant messaging, fax, email, fixed and mobile phones, web and video conferencing, to help businesses drive efficiency and performance and remain competitive. Cisco and Italtel are leading the development of Unified Communications systems, creating new business opportunities for telecom operators to provide innovative managed services for business customers. These value-added services contribute to higher margins and revenues for service providers in a market where traditional voice revenue streams are rapidly declining.
Managed services providers throughout Europe are capitalising on the trend of enterprise outsourcing and out-tasking of non-core business services. Recent research from Ovum on the managed services market in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region forecasts total services revenue will grow to $14 billion by 2009, with managed IP voice services revenue growing at the fastest annual compound rate of 71%.
The Italtel-Cisco IN-BVS solution is being deployed by a number of European Service Providers as part of their IP next-generation network (IP NGN) strategy. With the solution, operators can provide end-to-end remote management, carrier-grade quality of service and security, and advanced, customisable services, such as centralized contact directories, unified messaging and fixed-mobile integration, all fully integrated with the existing enterprise IT environment. The IN-BVS solution also allows the operator to efficiently manage the migration of legacy voice networks to IP-based next generation networks, whilst maintaining interoperability with existing systems.
"We can see a strong acceleration in processes and technologies based on digital convergence, a development that also induces other international telecommunications operators to propose new, previously unheard of business models", says Mauro Righetti, Italtel CEO. "The solution presented today with Cisco, our strategic partner, can guide all operators, from carriers to Internet Service Providers, towards new and more efficient means of service delivery, such as managed services, to combine specific needs for migration towards more innovative and more efficient networks with the need to increase business customer satisfaction."
"Today's launch is the first of many joint solutions that Cisco and Italtel will be delivering to the industry following the extension of our strategic relationship announced last month," said Geraint Anderson, vice president of Service Providers in European markets at Cisco. "I believe our collaboration with Italtel will help our customers gain a competitive edge by taking advantage of their next-generation networks to deliver more innovative, profitable services."
The Italtel-Cisco IN-BVS solution is an end-to-end solution that integrates the Italtel Softswitch (i-SSW) with Cisco Unified CallManager (CCM) and Cisco Unified CallManager Express (CCME) call-control systems. Using Italtel's "Coordinated Provisioning" platform, service providers can remotely configure, manage and monitor all services provided at the customer's premises, helping to ensure supply process continuity and scalability, whilst reducing the management complexity of all network elements.
Italtel and Cisco are holding a joint press conference to introduce the IN-BVS solution on 11 October, 11.30-13.00 at the Broadband World Forum. Location: CNIT - La Dèfense, Press Conference Room - Amphithéatre Diderot, Level D
About Italtel
The Italtel Group designs, develops and implements next generation multiservice integrated network systems (voice/data/image), using state-of-the-art products and a system integration capacity that guarantees reliable infrastructures, open to networking and flexible in technology development terms, to telecommunications operators (fixed and mobile), Internet Service Providers, large enterprises and Public Authorities. Italtel turnover in FY 2005 was 545.8 million euro, and the company currently has around 2,300 staff. The body of shareholders of Italtel Group S.p.A., parent company of Italtel S.p.A., is composed as follows: CDRD Investment (Luxembourg) III S.ar.l., (48.77%), Telecom Italia Finance S.A. (19.37%), Cisco Systems International B.V. (18.40%), Advent Investment (Luxembourg) S.ar.l. n. 3 (8.65%), Brera Italtel LLC (2.16%), Cordusio Società Fiduciaria per Azioni - shareholder in a fiduciary capacity for Group employees and Company directors other than its own holding in the Company - (2.65%). The CEO of Italtel is Mauro Righetti. Web site: www.italtel.com
