Central Europe-based service provider, GTS has selected Alcatel-Lucent to deploy a system supporting delivery of Ethernet services for the service provider.

As part of the deal, Alcatel-Lucent will deploy IP/MPLS and business access solutions as well as professional services enabling high-speed data connectivity across GTS’ areas of operations in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Romania in central Europe, along with Austria and Germany in the west.

“With the penetration of legacy and Internet-based VPNs falling, and high bandwidth applications on the rise, IDC expects Ethernet usage to increase strongly, especially in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) where Ethernet adoption has been relatively low until now. In fact, IDC forecasts the Ethernet services market across Europe to grow to US$5.6 billion in 2013, a growth of 123% over 2009. GTS will be one of the first operators to offer the CEE market region-wide Carrier Class Ethernet,” said James Eibisch, Research Director, EMEA Business Network Services, IDC.

“GTS CE will provide a wide range of advanced data, Internet and voice services to its corporate customers and carriers tailored their respective needs,” said Ignacio Irurita, Chief Technical Officer of GTS Central Europe. “Given Alcatel-Lucent’s reliability, large deployment references within Europe and our previous successful co-operation, we are confident we will offer the highest quality services to all our customers from the Baltic to the Black Sea. ”

“Alcatel-Lucent’s IP/MPLS and business access solutions, combined with its professional services, ensure stable data connections with high quality of service” said Luis Amago, Head of CIS, Central and Southern Europe in Alcatel-Lucent. “Our solution gives GTS CE the tools to offer its business customers an alternative way to access advanced services through an innovative and highly competitive offering.”

Post deployment, GTS will offer Ethernet services over fibre, radio and copper lines.

Alcatel-Lucent will make use of its 7750 Service Router and 7210 Service Access Switch - all managed end-to-end by the Alcatel-Lucent 5620 Service Aware Manager which will be complimented by Alcatel-Lucent’s 1521 Copper Line IP (CLIP) and 1531 Copper Line Access Switch (CLAS) business access products.

Alcatel-Lucent will also provide installation, commission, project management and consulting services.