Alcatel Taiwan Ltd, a broadband equipment provider, announced yesterday that it would expand into an advanced data network designed to transmit text and voice information on the same platform.
"We will help operators migrate their networks into the next stage," said Fazal Bahardeen, networking division vice president of Alcatel Asia Pacific.
Broadband or ADSL (asymmetrical digital signal line) is now only used for faster Internet connections or downloading data. However, with the help of the planned advanced network, broadband users will be able to make calls via telephones linked to the Internet. According to a telecom market watcher, fixed-line operators are using the technology -- already being used in some nations -- to reduced network costs.
"Companies can provide both Internet connections and phone services via a single line rather than having two platforms," said Nathan Lin (
Internet phone calls -- voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) -- can reduce the cost of making a phone call by bypassing phone companies, Lin said. Although the Ministry of Transportation and Communications wants fixed-line operators to upgrade their networks by the end of the year, implementation for all of Taiwan will not be completed until some time next year, he said.
"At that time, international long-distance rates will be approximately 50 percent lower than current prices," Lin said.
Nokia Corp, Nortel Networks Corp and Cisco Systems Inc will also be vying for market share.
According to Bahardeen, Alcatel's next step will be to provide network migration technology to fixed-line operators.
An IT pundit said Chunghwa Telecom Ltd (
"Chunghwa's network is very old and needs to be upgrade right away," said Jack Hsu (
Other potential clients have already been paired off with Nortel and Nokia.
"New Century InfoComm Tech Co Ltd (
For easy integration with Chunghwa's system -- which already uses Alcatel's ADSL line to connect to end users -- Alcatel's network service may be the logical choice, he said.
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