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25th jun 2004 - Alcatel and Shanghai Media Group, announced
today that they have signed an agreement to integrate
SMG's TV and video content with Alcatel's 3G networking
solutions. The agreement was signed by Alcatel Shanghai
Bell, Alcatel's flagship Chinese company. This co-operative
effort, the first of its kind in China between a media
group and an end-to-end 3G solutions provider, will
enable 3G mobile users to enjoy TV and other video-based
content in China, and also internationally thanks to
Alcatel's international network of 3G Reality Centres.
In addition, both parties agreed to integrate TV programs
into Alcatel's DSL solution so as to drive broadband
video streaming applications in China. This content
deal also complements Alcatel's Open Media Suite portfolio,
the industry leading middleware solution for delivery
of rich media in a triple play service mix (voice, data,
video).
Under the terms of the agreement, SMG will provide
Alcatel with access to 11 channels of television programming
including news, entertainment, and finance. SMG's TV
channels include, in particular, 'Dragon TV', a popular
newly formed TV channel serving the entire country and
Chinese communities in Japan, Australia and other countries
around the world. It also includes 'China Business Network
(CBN)', offering business and financial news services
(with English briefings broadcast via CNBC) to business
people worldwide willing to catch up with the economic
booming expansion of the Chinese market.
Alcatel will integrate these programs into its 3G networking
solutions and enable users to access high definition
live TV, video streaming, and video-on-demand programs
at up to 384 kbps data transmission rates.
Li Rigging, President of Shanghai Media Group, said,
"New technology is the driving force behind SMG's media
and entertainment ventures. Partnering with Alcatel,
a leading end-to-end 3G solutions provider, will help
us promote our brand and contents through highly visible
new distribution means like 3G mobile networks and devices."
He added: "This agreement with Alcatel is an important
step forward for us to expand the reach of our programs
both locally and internationally".
"Enabling multimedia services delivery is the key to
success in 3G," explained Gerard Dega, President of
Alcatel Shanghai Bell. "Leveraging SMG's attractive
news and entertainment TV and video content, our agreement
with SMG is totally in line with Alcatel's strategy
to develop more user-centric applications at home, on
the pause and on the move, and to further strengthen
Alcatel's leadership in mobile broadband, in particular
in 3G," he explained.
The two companies are conducting a live demonstration
of the new services in Alcatel's booth at China Elecomm,
a telecommunications trade show that is being held in
Shanghai from June 23 through June 26. A press conference,
the two companies plan to host during the tradeshow,
will be broadcast over the Alcatel Shanghai Bell 3G
network to the company's booth. There, the conference
can be viewed by visitors on LCDs and 3G mobile phones.
The Shanghai 3G Reality Centre open platform infrastructure
is using the end-to-end Alcatel's field-proven Evolium?
UMTS solution based on the successful 3G products from
Evolium SAS, Alcatel's joint venture with Fujitsu.
About Shanghai Media Group
Shanghai Media Group (SMG) is a multimedia conglomerate
of radio, television, newspaper, and websites with total
assets of 10.7 billion Yuan and over 5200 staff. It
is comprised of 10 nationally renowned media organizations,
9 art troupes and 6 sports clubs, including Shanghai
TV Women's Soccer Club, Oriental Basketball Club, Shanghai
Cable TV Station Volleyball Club, and Shanghai Cable
TV Station Men's Soccer Club. SMG is striving to become
an influential multimedia group in the Asia-Pacific
region within 5 to 8 years, and aims to be one of the
world's biggest Chinese language news groups, listed
in the global top hundred media groups in the next five
years.
About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication
carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises
for delivery of voice, data and video applications to
their customers or to their employees. Alcatel leverages
its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks,
applications and services to bring value to its customers
in the framework of a broadband world. With sales of
EURO 12.5 billion in 2003, Alcatel operates in more
than 130 countries.
About Alcatel Shanghai Bell
Alcatel Shanghai Bell is the first foreign-invested
company limited by shares in the telecommunications
sector in China, with Alcatel holding 50%+1 shares and
Chinese shareholders holding the remainder. The multi-billion
dollar telecom technology leader delivers end-to-end
telecommunications solutions and high-quality services,
covering the fixed, mobile networking, broadband access,
intelligent optical networking, multimedia solutions
and network applications. It also has a key international
R&D center with full access to Alcatel's global technology
pool, developing original technology for use in China
and export to Alcatel's customers worldwide. With 6,500
employees, an advanced manufacturing center, and the
most extensive sales and support network in China, it
is the only company capable of meeting the global needs
of Chinese customers. For more information, visit Alcatel
Shanghai Bell on the Internet at http://www.alcatel-sbell.com.cn
About 3G Reality Centres
To support development of 3G technology and applications
in China, Alcatel Shanghai Bell officially opened a
3G Reality Centre (3GRC) in Shanghai in 2002. The Shanghai
3GRC is China's first end-to-end 2.5G/3G environment
and can support content providers and service providers
from design to full tests of a range of 3G/UMTS applications.
The 3GRC in Shanghai is an integral part of Alcatel's
network of 14 3GRC worldwide
About Evolium SAS
Evolium SAS is a joint venture between Alcatel (66%)
and Fujitsu (34%) and has a task force of 1700 engineers.
Evolium SAS combines Alcatel's expertise in GSM, GPRS,
and EDGE as well as in ATM and IP technologies, with
the advanced experience of Fujitsu as supplier of NTT
DoCoMo
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