Proximus, a global telecommunications company, has announced its selection of Italtel (News - Alert), a leader of generation networks, value-added services and global IP-IP communication, to decommission its legacy fixed switched network in favor of a next generation network.
The project will bring many advantages to the network operator including a reduction of operating costs and improved reliability in operations and network management. The new, all-digital network will also create an opportunity for the addition of numerous digital and high-value services that were incompatible with the legacy network, a point that Proximus’ customers will certainly be happy to hear.
Proximus is currently the leading provider of telephony, Internet and television services in Belgium, and also has a notable international presence. This project with Italtel is part of an overall legacy consolidation effort led by Proximus called Mantra, which was launched near the end of 2013.
“Mantra is among Proximus' most important projects for the coming years,” said Johan Luystermans, Director of Network Engineering and Operations at Proximus. “It will put Proximus in a more cost-effective position by consolidating all legacy technologies and moving towards a network solely based on fiber, VDSL and wireless technologies with only very few technical buildings left.”
A team consisting of employees from both Proximus and Italtel are currently working on migrating the Proximus product portfolio over to the new IP-based infrastructure. Italtel expects its portion of the Mantra project to be completed within the next four years.
“By launching its Mantra decommissioning project, Proximus has confirmed its place among the most innovative service providers in Europe and Italtel is proud to be at its side,” said Stefano Pileri, CEO of Italtel. “Assigning this important program to Italtel confirms our position as a specialist in the evolution of traditional networks into next generation networks for the provision of new levels of service. Over the years we have built a solid collaboration with Proximus. The key factors that allowed us to win this tender are a solid competence gained through significant international projects, vast cross-technology know-how and a skilled team of experts.”