Alcatel-Lucent’s Rapport software central to China Mobile VoLTE plans
Alcatel-Lucent said the world’s largest mobile operator, China Mobile, was set to deploy its network functions virtualization-based Rapport communications software in a move to consolidate the carrier’s video, voice and messaging services into a single platform, as well as support the rollout of voice-over-LTE and cloud-based services.
The deployment calls for China Mobile to tap Rapport’s native APIs and Web real-time communications capabilities in nine provinces to “create new contextual applications and services, enabling subscribers to personalize how they connect with others using video, voice and messaging on any connected device.” The IP-based solution is also expected to support the rollout of China’s first carrier-grade VoLTE service as well as eventual voice-over-Wi-Fi services.
Alcatel-Lucent said the Rapport platform is based on its IP multimedia subsystem foundation, with the China Mobile deployment set to include call session control functions, application servers and session border controllers. The NFV-based platform, which was launched in April, is also being used to conduct a NFV-based VoLTE solution trial.
Alcatel-Lucent recently scored a $727 million deal with China Mobile to provide its mobile and fixed “ultra-broadband access,” IP routing, optical networking, NFV capabilities and SDN technology from its Nuage Networks division. The deployments are targeted at meeting the country’s “Broadband China” initiative geared toward providing full broadband coverage across the country’s rural and urban areas by 2020.
A recent report from ACG Research, sponsored by Affirmed Networks and VMware, found mobile operators would begin saving money on NFV deployments within the first year and realize an investment payback within three years; adopting a virtualized evolved packet core can reduce capital expense by an average of 68% and operating expense by 67%; and the deployment of virtualized network components can happen within six months, compared with an average of 15 months for traditional network hardware, resulting in a quicker time to market and return on investment.
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