Vodafone UK has signed a managed service agreement with Alcatel-Lucent to support, maintain and upgrade a range of technical platforms, delivering key services to enhance customers mobile experience.
The agreement is expected to deliver a range of benefits to both Vodafone UK and its customers, including greater cost efficiency, faster time to market for new products such as innovative new tariffs and offers, as well as Vodafone UKs access to Alcatel-Lucents Research and Development facilities to ensure a programme of continuing improvement.
Under the five year agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will carry out maintenance and operations for Vodafone UKs Intelligent Network & Core Applications (INCA) platforms. These include the Home Location Register (HLR), which contains information on customers, the Pre-payment system and the Intelligent Nodes which control Virtual Private Network (VPN) services. Together, the INCA platforms manage the mobility, authentication and incoming call activity of subscribers, perform real-time rating and control of pre-pay calls, and allow advanced call scenarios used extensively in VPN and enterprise services.
Alcatel-Lucent will also be responsible for as transitioning current systems to standardised Alcatel-Lucent platforms to enhance levels of service delivery.
The initiative is expected to help accelerate the introduction of new pre-pay and enterprise offers to both consumers and businesses to give customers even more convenience and value.
We are confident that this agreement with Alcatel-Lucent will help Vodafone UK to operate more efficiently, as well as enhance levels of service to customers, says Vodafone UK Chief Technology Officer, Jeni Mundy. By accessing Alcatel-Lucents standardised product range and strategic services architecture, we also expect to lower the cost and accelerate the roll out of new products by reducing the amount of system customisation required.