France's RTE selects Alcatel-Lucent for mission-critical communications
SEPTEMBER 2, 2008 -- Alcatel-Lucent (search for Alcatel-Lucent) has signed three new multi-million Euro contracts with RTE, a subsidiary of French utility EDF Group, to deliver, install, and assist RTE in the operation and maintenance of an integrated fiber-optic network.
The 1,300-km network expansion will enable RTE to enhance mission-critical communications on its high-voltage transmission grid as well as enhance its optical security network, "ROSE" or Réseau Optique de SEcurité. Alcatel-Lucent confirms that it will have the overall project management, including network design and integration, procurement, deployment, engineering, installation & commissioning, testing, and operation & maintenance.
Alcatel-Lucent says its turnkey equipment and services will enable RTE to leverage traffic provisioning and network protection, as well as optimized operation and maintenance capabilities. RTE's mission-critical multimedia communications will be enhanced, say Alcatel-Lucent representatives, helping to secure and monitor the configuration of its electricity transport network thanks to a reliable high-speed data communications infrastructure. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent equipment and services allow RTE to leverage its investments by reselling its excess fiber-capacity to telecom operators and local authorities through its subsidiary @rteria.
"We decided to build a private telecom network to enhance the protection, control, and supervision of our high-voltage transmission network," reports Gérard Pellerin, operation and control director of RTE. "Launching the ROSE project, we were seeking a trusted partner with a proven record in rolling out a complex and demanding telecom infrastructure project. Alcatel-Lucent has helped us meet the challenge with highly reliable and achievable solutions and services from the initial stage of the project to the several further expansions of our fiber-optic network," he contends. "With these new multi-year frame contracts, we are confident in Alcatel-Lucent's understanding of the power industry mission-critical communications requirements and its ability to ensure the global project management of the ROSE network, from engineering to operations and maintenance."
With this new expansion, Alcatel-Lucent says it will have provided RTE with a turnkey fiber-optic network covering more than 7,000 km. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent is responsible for the global project management of the whole ROSE telecom network, including network design, engineering, supply of its Optical Multi-Service Node (OMSN) and 1696 Metrospan WDM equipment, installation & commissioning, the Network Operation Center, and overall maintenance.
"Alcatel-Lucent is fully committed to respond to the critical operational communications challenge faced by RTE," notes Pierre Barnabé, President of Alcatel-Lucent's activities in France, Iberia & Italy. "We are providing complete communications solutions that span the entire ROSE Telecom project life, from initial concept planning, design, and implementation to operations and maintenance," he says. "This new contract further confirms Alcatel-Lucent's leadership in the utility market, while confirming our ability to deliver mission-critical communications solutions for the overall industry & public sector."
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