TIM upgrades Italian backbone network with Alcatel-Lucent IP, SDN technology

TIM, Telecom Italia Group's single brand, has signed a technology provision agreement with Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) to upgrade the IP core routing and software-defined networking (SDN) capabilities of its national backbone network, according to the systems house. The enhancements will enable TIM to provide new video and cloud services, Alcatel-Lucent says.

Alcatel-Lucent will supply elements of its 7950 Extensible Routing System (XRS) IP Core Router portfolio, which will complement the 100G-capable 1830 Photonic Service Switch optical transport platforms it has already provided to the carrier (see "Telecom Italia thinks broadband with 100G fiber network deployment"). TIM will leverage Alcatel-Lucent's 5620 Service Aware Manager (SAM) for integrated end-to-end management of the IP and optical transport network, which should be implemented by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, TIM also will use Alcatel-Lucent's SDN-based Network Services Platform to create and activate new services.

TIM made the purchase decision after collaborating with Alcatel-Lucent's Bell Labs Consulting on a study that demonstrated how Alcatel-Lucent's proposed IP core network architecture and technology would help address the business need for improving TIM's network cost structure.

"I am very pleased to announce our collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent for TIM's Next Generation Core Network. It is an important and strategic decision for us as it is a key step in the continuation of our network modernisation in which we keep transforming our network for more Service Agility," said Gabriela Styf Sjöman, head, engineering and TILab at Telecom Italia|TIM. "Leveraging SDN WAN technology will allow us to execute on our plans for IP/optics integration and converged SDN control."

For more information on high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer's Guide.