KPN selects Lucent, Juniper Networks for phase two of IP/MPLS triple play deployment

September 28, 2005 Hilversum, Netherlands and Sunnyvale, CA -- Lucent Technologies and Juniper Networks today announced a contract with Dutch telecom operator KPN to deploy the next phase of KPN4' Internet Protocol (IP)/Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) core network. When fully implemented, the core multi-service network will enable KPN to support a variety of business and consumer services such as Ethernet VPN and advanced IP services such as IPTV and video streaming.

According to a press release, this announcement follows a 2003 agreement between Lucent, Juniper, and KPN for the first part of the operator's national IP/MPLS network over a unified core transport platform. The first phase of the rollout was aimed at the delivery of Ethernet VPN services to the operator's enterprise customers in the Netherlands; the second phase is expected to improve network redundancy and reliability, enabling the operator to introduce integrated voice, video, and data services for consumers. The operator says its triple-play services will include high-quality streaming video content, video-on-demand, TV broadcasts, fast Internet access, and VoIP.

As with the earlier agreement, the new contract includes Juniper Networks M- and T-series as well as deployment services and maintenance by Lucent Worldwide Services. By deploying additional Juniper routing platforms, KPN4 says its network performance, reliability, and redundancy will be significantly improved, which the carrier says is a pre-condition prior to the launch of high-quality streaming video services.

"Lucent and KPN have worked closely together for years on new technologies. This ambitious project, which is unique in Europe, enables KPN to provide its customers with state-of-the-art and future-proof Ethernet and MPLS services," comments John van Vianen, senior vice president of KPN's Business Unit Connectivity division. "KPN already had a long-standing, proven relationship with Lucent Technologies and Juniper Networks."

"This continued IP/MPLS network rollout will support an even broader range of services for KPN's customers countrywide," adds Huub de Klerk, customer group leader, North Europe, at Lucent Technologies. "Lucent is proud to be selected again to help continue KPN4s network build. This agreement is strategic to us, as it underscores our commitment and expertise in core networks."

Juniper Networks says its M- and T-series platforms enable providers to consolidate multiple networks onto a single IP/MPLS infrastructure, while simultaneously generating new revenues with leading-edge services such as integrated voice, video, and data.

"This agreement highlights our expertise in IP/MPLS in the most demanding environments, where the network infrastructure is the basis for a new generation of high-performance triple-play services," concludes Eddie Minshull, vice president of operations for Juniper Networks's Europe, Middle East and Africa division. "By choosing Juniper's routing platforms, KPN will be able to gain benefits in costs, performance and reliability."