BY EMEKA AGINAM
Alcatel-Lucent , the world’s largest mobile operator, and China Mobile the world’s largest mobile operator, yesterday signed a one-year comprehensive frame agreement valued at up to Euro 750 million to provide technology that will move the world’s largest mobile service provider to an all-IP ultra-broadband network paving the way for future network functions virtualization (NFV) and cloud-based services.

The announcement coincides with a visit to France by Chinese president Xi Jinping to commemorate the 50th anniversary of French-Chinese diplomatic relations.

Alcatel-Lucent has a long commitment to China and is marking the 30th anniversary of Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell as a major player in China’s telecom industry.

However, the significant agreement builds on an already long-standing relationship between China Mobile and strengthens Alcatel-Lucent’s critical role in the world’s largest mobile network.

It would be recalled that in 2013, China Mobile selected Alcatel-Lucent to provide its innovative lightRadio™ 4G TD-LTE overlay, Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and small cells technology to support the new 4G network.

At the just concluded Mobile World Congress 2014, held in Barcelona, Spain, China Mobile and Alcatel-Lucent demonstrated their progress in the development of network functions virtualization (NFV) for mobile operators.

Using Alcatel-Lucent’s virtualized proof of concept LTE radio access network (RAN) Baseband Unit (BBU) and its virtualized evolved packet core (vEPC) in a multi-vendor environment, the companies demonstrated how an open mobile cloud network enhances agility, efficiency and scale.

Accordingly, the agreement makes Alcatel-Lucent a key provider of technology ranging from IP networking to ultra-broadband access , including, but not limited to:

Michel Combes, CEO of Alcatel-Lucent, said: “This is a significant achievement of Alcatel-Lucent and essentially makes us a key technology provider in virtually every aspect of China Mobile’s growing mobile ultra-broadband network. We have worked side-by-side with China Mobile throughout many developments in mobile technology, including the development of 4G TD-LTE. We are continuing that close collaboration as China Mobile moves to the next level of ultra-broadband through NFV supporting future cloud applications and services.”