Ericsson has been selected to provide Telefónica O2 Germany with an IMS core system with an IMS-based VoIP application server. The two contracts include hardware deployment and software systems integration services.
This is said to represent a major step forward for O2 in Germany, as it migrates its existing fixed and mobile systems into a converged IP-based Next-generation network (NGN).
Ericsson will also integrate O2's VoIP application server using IMS, making services such as IP Centrex, business trunking or presence functionality available to all fixed and mobile users.
Andrea Folgueiras CTO Telefónica O2 Germany, said: "With IMS, we can advance the conversion of our current systems into more cost-effective and higher performance multimedia networks that can make optimal use of ever-increasing bandwidths. We based our decision to have Ericsson as a partner for IMS on the good experience from our joint projects in Spain and other countries."
Carsten Ahrens, President of Ericsson Germany, added: "We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Telefónica O2 Germany by supplying and integrating the centerpiece of their IP network transformation. IMS will drive the evolution and convergence of their telephony service and provide the foundation for delivery of their other real-time multimedia applications."
IMS is said to offer the level of intelligence required in next-generation networks to provide all users with broadband multimedia services at any location, independent of the access network they are connected to, using a wide variety of different devices. Introduction of IMS and use of a common platform can also mean reduced costs for network providers for new applications and network operations as a whole.