Bouygues Telecom selects Acme Packet for IMS network (France, USA)
Acme Packet, the leader in session delivery networks, announced that Bouygues Telecom, a leading fixed and mobile service provider in France, is deploying Acme Packet Net-Net Session Director session border controllers (SBCs) in its IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, supplied and integrated by Alcatel-Lucent. Acme Packet’s SBCs fulfill numerous IMS functions at both the access and interconnect borders, ensuring security, interoperability, and quality in the network.
Bouygues Telecom is deploying IMS to support multiple services, including migration of existing residential voice to voice over IP (VoIP), interconnecting with other service providers and launching new services, such as visual voice mail.
The Net-Net Session Director fulfills critical IMS functional requirements at the access and interconnect borders of Bouygues Telecom’s network. In the access network, SBCs provide the critical Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) and IMS-Access Gateway Function (AGW) for securing, interoperating, and controlling all SIP-based services to subscribers. The Net-Net Session Director provides Interconnect Border Control Function (I-BCF) and the Transition Gateway (TrGW) for controlling fixed and mobile SIP traffic at interconnect borders, encompassing both internal interconnection between Bouygues’ fixed and mobile networks as well as between the IMS network and other service providers.
Bouygues Telecom is using Acme Packet’s interoperability feature set that includes SIP normalization and SIP to SIP-I interworking that helps accelerate time-to-market and reduce operational costs as the network expands. Net-SAFE®, Acme Packet’s security framework, provides denial of service (DoS) attack prevention, topology hiding, and access control to protect Bouygues Telecom’s IMS network and ensure service availability. Other key features include accounting for billing and traffic planning, as well as admission control, routing, and quality of service marking for service level agreement assurance.
Jean-Paul Arzel, Bouygues Telecom networks director, said that Acme Packet’s SBC is a key part of their IMS network, built to enable innovative services and deliver enhanced customer experience to their fixed and mobile customers. They chose the Acme Packet solution due to their culture of innovation, the rich functionality and scalability of its session border controllers, and the company’s impressive track record in enabling trusted, high-quality VoIP, and IP interactive communication services.
Mario Oliveira, Acme Packet’s vice president of Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and Caribbean and Latin America sales, said that Acme Packet brings extensive experience in helping their customers build next generation communications networks. Their IMS solution portfolio delivers the security, interoperability, and quality functionalities that Bouygues Telecom and leading service providers demand to be successful in their migration to end-to-end IP communications.
Orange to launch TV Check app in iPhone in UK (UK)
Telecom operator Orange is planning to launch its TV Check iPhone application in the UK this month, and will launch the app on the Android platform in both France and the UK at the same time, according to a report by DTVE. The app offers additional content and games such as quizzes around TV shows, and the ability to chat and comment on shows via Twitter and Facebook.
Patrice Slupowski, vice-presdent, digital innovation and communities at Orange, said that they are happy to open a second country. They will see how the UK audience does with it.
Slupowski told DTVE that Orange would add social recommendation features to the app and said that Orange would discuss with channels in the UK about building partnerships with them. He said the Android version of the app would launch both in France and the UK at the end of May. Slupowski said that the app had been downloaded about 100,000 times in France.
Vivendi appoints Michel Combes as Chairman and CEO of SFR (France)
Vivendi has appointed Michel Combes as Chairman and CEO of SFR and a member of the Vivendi Management Board. According to reports, Michel Combes is currently Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Europe and a Board member of Vodafone PLC.
Jean-Bernard Lévy, Chairman of the Vivendi Management Board, said that they are very happy that Michel Combes has agreed to come on board to run SFR. His international management experience and his extensive knowledge of the telecoms sector will prove most valuable to lead the company in the challenges it faces. They have total confidence in his ability to mobilize the SFR teams and to build with them a successful future for the company.
Michel Combes said that he is very happy to be joining Vivendi and SFR. He has known the Group for many years and he is fully aware of both its potential and the quality of its teams, while recognizing the challenges ahead.
Jean-Bernard Lévy will continue as Chairman and CEO of SFR until the 1st August, the scheduled date for Michel Combes’ arrival.
Orange partners with CANAL+ AFRIQUE for mobile payment services (France, Africa)
CANAL+ AFRIQUE and Orange have signed a partnership offering CANAL+/CANALSAT subscribers in Africa a convenient way to pay their subscription fees with their mobiles, using Orange’s mobile payment service.
CANAL+/CANALSAT subscription fee payment using Orange Money will be launched in Madagascar in June 2012, so all Malagasy subscribers who are both CANAL+/CANALSAT and Orange customers with an Orange Money account will be able to pay their subscription fees easily and directly from their mobiles, and enjoy great flexibility and instant delivery of their favourite TV programmes.
Orange Money is the mobile phone payment service designed by Orange to meet the needs of its customers in Africa and the Middle East. It provides Orange subscribers with functions such as money transfers from mobile to mobile, bills payment, withdrawal services and cash deposits with networks of registered agents, as well as paying for goods and services with certain businesses.
Orange Money is making life easier for a large number of people in Africa where 60 percent of the population has a mobile phone but less than 10% has a bank account. It has been launched in nine countries so far: Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger and Senegal, and has already reached over 3.5 million customers.
CANAL+ AFRIQUE, present in more than 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, provides its subscribers with a variety of TV channels packages, which can either be prepaid or paid through direct debit. The majority of users opt for the prepaid formula which helps them control their spending, but which means they have to go to a retailer to renew their subscription. Orange Money will provide added comfort and flexibility for these customers by providing a way for them to pay their bills anytime, anywhere, with almost instantaneous service activation.
In addition to Madagascar, by the end of 2012, this mobile payment service will be offered to CANAL+/CANALSAT subscribers in various African countries where the Orange money service is already available.
Guy Lafarge, President of CANAL+ OVERSEAS, said that they are very pleased with this partnership with Orange on mobile payment. With Orange Money, they will provide their subscribers with an innovative and simple means of payment which is both quick and secure.
Marc Rennard, Executive Director responsible for Africa, Middle East and Asia, said that this agreement with CANAL+ AFRIQUE, a major player in the world of digital content, is another example of their resolve to continually broaden the range of Orange Money services to make life easier for customers. Further, thanks to the different partnerships based around Orange Money, they wish to improve the lives of their customers by providing them with a quick and simple means of accessing all services, on a day to day basis.
Orange Business Services increases video services in cloud (France)
Orange Business Services to expand its portfolio of video services with Telepresence Pass, a new cloud offering soft, flexible and economical for companies. Telepresence is a Pass offering video services simple to implement, and perennial with multiple benefits.
Telepresence Pass provides businesses a simple way to capitalize on the benefits of videoconferencing systems “immersive” in-house and externally with partners, customers and suppliers. Pass Telepresence is an underwritten offering opex mode, which allows companies to significantly reduce their material and human investment.
Vivek Badrinath, Executive Director of Orange Business Services, said that their ambition is to provide businesses across the video, without limitation. He added that the key is to offer companies a wide range of video services so they can choose the solution that best meets their business needs.
Telepresence Pass adds to the complete and comprehensive portfolio of video services in Orange Business Services. It relies on a network supporting efficient, high on the experience of Orange Business Services in the field of videoconferencing and on a global strategy oriented businesses, allowing them to make the most of their investments in videoconferencing.
A network ready for Telepresence with guarantees unmatched capacity, service quality and coverage , the network quality is the success of the video conferencing experience. Experience Immersive Telepresence is open in 21 additional countries and continued progress of the network Orange Business Services offers a service availability of 99.95 percent.
Nicolas Roy, Director of Network Solutions Business Unit, Orange Business Services, said that of all the applications, the video is the most demanding bandwidth and quality of real-time service. Further, the group continues to invest about $ 990 million per year in its international backbone network and related IT infrastructure so that our customers can benefit from a level of coverage, bandwidth and optimal quality and an experience Exceptional video.
Interoperability: operators, terminals and access type interoperability conditions the ability of firms to collaborate with their entire ecosystem, with any type of equipment and through all the interconnected networks. Orange had already established agreements with Telepresence Interoperability four major operators (AT&T, BT, Telefonica and Tata) and announces it has signed a new contract with Verizon Enterprise Solutions. Orange also confirms its determination and leadership in taking the chair of the consortium OVCC (Open Visual Collaboration Consortium), to promote the development of uses of videoconference with increasing interoperability.
Flexibility of service management and customer support Orange Business Services offers a full range of offers video services, offering ease of use and management for users and for IT managers. Every IT department can indeed choose a management flexible and responsive to their expectations – the full support internally to the delivery of turnkey solutions and fully managed by Orange Business Services. Users have a reservation service video conferencing simple and ongoing support 24/7.
Orange to launch new roaming app next month (France)
Mobile operator Orange France is looking to launch the Orange Travel App that will allow owners of Android, iOS and BlackBerry devices to track their data usage and SMS details in real-time, as per a report by Mobile Magazine. They can then compare this within the app to their local tariff plans to ensure they have not exceeded their allowances. The app was launched in France last year and has already attracted more than 15,000 downloads.
The report reveals that the app was initially looking at a summer launch but with might be released as early as next month. The roaming bundle will offer daily, weekly or monthly tariffs incorporating voice, SMS and data. For example, customers travelling in France will be able to buy a bundle that includes 10 minutes of voice, 10 SMSes and 10MB of data for around $6.5 per day from June onwards
When the services were first launched outside of the UK, Orange said it was to counteract the risks of high roaming charges. Orange executive VP for consumer mobile services Vincent Brunet said that by putting in further safety nets, they are helping customers to manage their consumption while they continue to introduce competitive offers that respond to their customers growing needs.
As per the report, Orange also plans to roll out a ‘rest of world’ alert and cap for customers travelling outside of the European Union. As customers approach their data limit, they will receive an SMS alert and can then choose to purchase more data or be cut off when the limit is reached.
France Telecom agrees to Mobinil’s buyout terms (France, Egypt)
Mobile operator France Telecom has finalized the agreement terms to buyout shares in Mobinil, an Egypt based telecom company, from its local partner OTMT.
According to reports, the companies said in a statement that the agreement means France Telecom will now launch a tender offer to acquire 100 percent of Mobinil’s capital at a price of $ 33.5 per share, subject to regulatory approval.
The statement added that OTMT is expected to receive aggregate proceeds of $994 million for its direct and indirect ECMS stake tendered.
As per reports, France Telecom would control a 95 percent stake in Mobinil post this agreement. The move comes as an attempt by France Telecom to enhance its presence in emerging markets.
Orange Business Services inks 5 year deal with JTI (France, Japan)
Orange Business Services has signed a five-year outsourcing contract with JTI (Japan Tobacco International), the international business of Japan Tobacco Inc., worth over $100 million. Orange Business Services helps JTI with managed services such as LAN, data and voice traffic, security and call centers among others.
As per reports, Diego De Coen, JTI CIO, said that their 17-year relationship with Orange Business Services is built on trust and mutual success. Such a long-term relationship is nearly unheard of these days and this contract renewal was not a given. Instead, Orange Business Services proved again that its competitive strength, unmatched global reach and comprehensive portfolio made it the best choice for JTI as they continue to evolve their global telecom infrastructure and services.
Helmut Reisinger, Senior Vice President Europe, Orange Business Services, said that over the years, they have developed a very strong partnership with JTI. They are grateful and proud that they have been entrusted with this contract for another five years. This is certainly mainly due to the quality of services they have been providing to JTI, even during the days of 2011 turbulences in times of the Japan earthquake or the ‘Egyptian spring’ where their business continuity plans proved to be beneficial to a lot of multinationals such as JTI. Building on the success, they look forward to collaborating with JTI on innovative solutions over the next several years.
SFR CEO Frank Esser paves the way for Vivendi CEO (France)
Frank Esser will step down as CEO for SFR and will be replaced by Jean-Bernard Levy, CEO of Vivendi.
As per the company, Esser was the CEO of SFR from 2000 to 2002 and CEO since 2002. He successfully led the development of SFR in a highly competitive, both in the markets of mobile and fixed-line Internet access. The outstanding work done by Frank Esser and his teams made the SFR leading alternative telecom in France and even Europe.
SFR now has everything it needs to adapt to the current competitive environment, to continue to fully satisfy its millions of customers and to benefit from the growth generated by new digital uses.
