Swisscom, the leading telecommunications group in Switzerland, has selected Alcatel to deliver a broadband access network to enable it to deliver IPTV video services by the second half of 2005.
Alcatel will supply Swisscom with a VDSL-enabled broadband access network offering 25 Mbps to end-users. VDSL, or Very high rate Digital Subscriber Line, offers high data rates across a telephone line over relatively short distances.
“The step-by-step implementation of our triple play strategy reflects our company’s continued investment in the future of communications in Switzerland,” said Adrian Bult, chief executive of Swisscom Fixnet. “We are creating a new television experience, supporting changing user habits and triggering an innovative step forward in the television business.”
“The delivery of triple play services – and specifically IPTV – becomes a strategic necessity for many customers worldwide to beat various competitors and off-set the loss in voice revenues by new service sales,” explained Michel Rahier of Alcatel.
Swisscom broadband subsidiary Bluewin has been engaged in trials with the Microsoft TV platform. Earlier this year Microsoft and Alcatel announced a strategic partnership to deliver next generation television services.