Wi-Fi Goes Mobile With Alcatel-Lucent

PARIS, February 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

lightRadio™ Wi-Fi^®makes it easy for smartphones, tablets and other connected devices to move seamlessly between cellular networks and hotspots at home, in coffee shops and other locations

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is making it simpler for people to access the Internet - whether on smartphones, tablets or laptops - over secure Wi-Fi connections in homes or hotspot locations such as coffee shops and shopping centers. lightRadio™ Wi-Fi^® sorts through the confusion of hotspots and cellular networks to find and connect with the best available wireless broadband network, while helping communications service providers extend their reach by integrating Wi-Fi directly into their service offerings.

People like to be able to switch from 3G or 4G networks to Wi-Fi to access the Internet, particularly with the growing interest in Cloud-based applications to store music, video, photos and multimedia content. However, switching from a cellular service to a Wi-Fi network is not always seamless, particularly when it requires first finding a network and then getting through complex log-in and password procedures.

lightRadio™ Wi-Fi^® simplifies this process by allowing people to switch automatically from a cellular service to residential or public Wi-Fi networks and hotspots without having to login, worry about payments schemes, or even be aware of the shift. This is done in three ways: by using software that identifies and connects people to a 'trusted' network automatically; by introducing new capabilities into service provider networks to manage the transition between Wi-Fi and cellular networks; and by integrating Wi-Fi directly into small-cell base stations and cellular networks.

lightRadio Wi-Fi addresses another big concern - security. Many people prefer to connect to hotspots that they know they can trust, especially when accessing services and streamed content from the Cloud, or when they need uninterrupted connections for video streaming or video phone calls.  lightRadio Wi-Fi always finds the most 'trusted' network.

lightRadio Wi-Fi represents a radical departure from the traditional way that mobile operators apply Wi-Fi: today it is often used to 'offload' traffic from congested cellular networks. By enabling cellular subscribers to stay within their network and service plan, it will allow service providers to maintain use of their services, creating revenue, independent of how the customer is connected.

The lightRadio Wi-Fi approach is also highly applicable for fixed-line and cable service providers, allowing them to extend wireless coverage to existing subscribers without investing in expensive spectrum or wireless infrastructure.

Ken Rehbehn, a principal analyst at Yankee Group said: "Delivering secure, seamless access to Wi-Fi networks is a key requirement in the market right now.-Alcatel-Lucent's lightRadio Wi-Fi provides operators with a comprehensive solution that smartly draws from the company's strengths in radio access technology and IP routing.-The result is an offer that lets operators leverage existing network assets while delivering demanding smartphone users an outstanding customer experience."

Wim Sweldens, President of Alcatel-Lucent's Wireless division said: "With lightRadio Wi-Fi, Alcatel-Lucent gives service providers new options to meet consumers' fast-growing broadband requirements. Extending our groundbreaking lightRadio portfolio, service providers will be able to build closer relationships with their customers by delivering seamless high-speed broadband connections, wherever they are, using LTE and Wi-Fi networks. For subscribers, this approach provides the peace of mind they want when accessing the Internet wherever they go."

Alcatel-Lucent is extending the lightRadio ecosystem to allow service providers access to the widest range of Wi-Fi networks.  Alcatel-Lucent is collaborating with several major Wi-Fi access point companies to ensure interoperability and is integrating Motorola Solutions' high-performance Wi-Fi solution and Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi technology into its multi-standard Metrocells to ensure that lightRadio Wi-Fi provides our customers with the best Wi-Fi solution, at a competitive price.

"The massive influx of connected wireless devices is creating a huge opportunity for 3G/4G alternatives.- Motorola Solutions has the ideal WLAN solution powered by our WiNG 5 architecture to deliver carrier- class scalability and management," said Imran Akbar, vice president and general manager, Enterprise Networks & Communications, Motorola Solutions. "We look forward to working with Alcatel-Lucent to provide a quality experience for 3G/4G users."

About Alcatel-Lucent's lightRadio Wi-Fi solution (#lightRadio):

Alcatel-Lucent is combining its leadership in wireless and Internet Protocol (IP) technology to extend their broadband networks - mobile or fixed - with high-capacity, seamless and secure Wi-Fi. The solution has several key components, including:

• Secure Wi-Fi gateway functionality has been introduced into Alcatel-Lucent's IP portfolio on the market-leading 7750 Service Router. This enables service providers to offer large-scale Wi-Fi services in conjunction with fixed and mobile broadband services from a single platform, reducing cost and complexity.
• New software called the Automatic Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) has been added to Alcatel-Lucent's policy manager, the 5780 Dynamic Services Controller. This allows the automatic selection of the 'best' network connection based on criteria such as service type, subscription type and network congestion levels, helping to improve the overall customer experience.
• Integrated Wi-Fi as an option on Alcatel-Lucent's lightRadio multi-standard Femtocell and Metrocell systems. Metrocells provide additional network capacity and coverage in dense urban centers, airports or busy shopping malls, and Femtocells are 'personal base stations' for increasing coverage and capacity in homes or offices. Integrating Wi-Fi into Alcatel-Lucent's already comprehensive Femtocell portfolio will further increase Alcatel-Lucent's global leadership in this technology.

To complete the solution, Alcatel-Lucent offers highly specialized services for the planning, design and seamless integration of lightRadio Wi-Fi into existing networks simplifying the deployment and speeding time to market.

About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU)

The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments around the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leading innovator in the field of networking and communications technology, products and services. The company is home to Bell Labs, one of the world's foremost R&D organizations, responsible for breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry. Alcatel-Lucent is committed to making communications more sustainable, more affordable and more accessible as we pursue our mission - Realizing the Potential of a Connected World.

With operations in more than 130 countries and one of the most experienced global services organizations in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The Company achieved revenues of Euro 15.3 billion in 2011 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.

For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com, read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow the Company on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.

SOURCE Alcatel-Lucent