Alcatel-Lucent Develops Application-based VPNs on IP/MPLS Routers

Alcatel-Lucent delivers next stage in business VPNs, enabling service providers to deliver assured quality and performance for enterprise applications


Alcatel-Lucent introduced a new means for Service Providers to offer business virtual private networks (VPNs) by leveraging their IP/MPLS infrastructure rather than customer premise appliances at each enterprise location. Alcatel-Lucent's new Application-Assured VPN offering enables VPN services to be offered using a "cloud-based" model, but with the performance, security, privacy and quality of service previously only available with a premises-based solution.


The new capabilities are enabled by adding AA-VPN blades into Alcatel-Lucent's Service Routers. The service cards, along with and reporting and analysis software, identify and then prioritize specific voice, video and business data applications, such as SAP, Citrix, email, voice over IP (VoIP), videoconferencing, Instant Messaging and NetMeeting. Service providers are able to offer enterprises the option to monitor their network traffic -- by application -- at an extremely granular level via a dedicated Web Portal that provides visibility across the service provider's network. Using the portal, enterprises also can manage application prioritization and bandwidth optimization, enabling significant improvements in network planning, usage and application performance.


'We continue to work closely with our customers to help them maximize the return on their network and strategically expand their service offerings into areas that provide new kinds of value-added revenue opportunities,' said Basil Alwan, president of IP activities at Alcatel-Lucent. 'These new capabilities will enhance their existing VPN portfolios, allowing them to expand their addressable market with higher value services.'http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/AAVPN