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Nortel Helps Build Russian VoIP (April 06, 2006)
By David Sims
TMCnet Contributing Editor
JSC Sibirtelecom, a telecommunications service provider in Siberia, has deployed an IMS-based, next-generation network using Nortel (News - Alert) technology in the city of Novokuznetsk.
The deployment allows Sibirtelecom to provide a range of fixed and mobile voice, data and multimedia services.
The new network meets the requirements of modern NGN communications standards, particularly IMS. Based on IP technologies, the network integrates VoIP softswitches, media gateways and Sibirtelecom's existing digital switched telephone network to expand its subscriber capacity.
The network offers advanced multimedia services such as Internet telephone calls, Internet mobility, video telephony, file exchange, voice mail and integrated universal messaging. The increased capacity also allows more subscribers in the Novokuznetsk city area to make traditional local, international and domestic long-distance voice calls over the existing switched network.
"As the first provider in Siberia to deploy a converged, next-generation network, Sibirtelecom is revolutionizing communications for the region," said Anatoly Nikulin, CEO for JSC Sibirtelecom.
"Nortel was able to enhance our traditional telephony services with the newest multimedia capability on a single network for both consumers and business customers. The new revenue streams and cost-reductions enabled by our next-generation network are integral to Sibirtelecom's leading position in the Siberian market."
Russia's a tough market for wireless. Late last year unknown Florida-based operator GlobeTel made an eyebrow-raising, out-of-nowhere announcement of a $600 million Wi-MAX deal in Russia. GlobeTel CEO Tim Huff has been publicly reticent ever since about the deal, which now appears to have collapsed.
GlobeTel stock shot up 75 percent in a single day in late December after the firm, which describes itself as a “diversified, global telecommunications and financial services company” announced a $600 million “Wi-MAX wireless network” deal for the “30 largest Russian cities,” Motley Fool analyst Seth Jayson reported.
Huff predicted at the time that “Russia will, quickly and at a relatively modest cost, have a wireless infrastructure that will rival any in the industrialized world,” according to Red Herring.
"We are helping reduce Sibirtelecom's operational costs by optimizing its existing network investment while enabling the delivery of new, revenue-generating services," said Sorin Lupu, president Nortel Russia, Eastern Europe and Israel. "It's particularly pleasing that we have been able to use Nortel's network technology and experience to help Sibirtelecom achieve its business goals."
The Sibirtelecom NGN infrastructure, deployed with the support of systems integrator and Nortel channel partner RON-Telecom, includes the Nortel Communication Server 2000 superclass softswitching technology, Media Gateway 15000 carrier-grade gateways, and KEYMILE UMUX 1500 subscriber access equipment that is used to provide 27,000 analog subscriber lines.
It is planned to expand the network capacity to 40,000 analog subscriber lines by the end of 2006. The project also includes the provision of a Multimedia Communication Server 5200 in Novosibirsk city, which will allow Sibirtelecom to provide a common range of expanded multimedia services within the whole federal region of Siberia.
David Sims is contributing editor for TMCnet. For more articles please visit David Sims' columnist page.
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