Chunghwa Telecom has selected next generation network voice over IP and multimedia solutions from Nortel Networks to help transform its network to a packet-based infrastructure, and to position itself to drive new revenue opportunities.

Nortel Networks was awarded a contract to upgrade the network under Chunghwa Telecom's Class 5 Packet Telephony Service System tender. Full network deployment is expected to be completed by September 2004.

"Nortel Networks carrier-grade voice over IP solution will allow us to packetize our voice networks while cost-efficiently utilizing and integrating existing network equipment and systems," said Iee-Ray Wei, senior managing director, Corporate Planning Department, Chunghwa Telecom. "This upgrade will be the first step in fully evolving our networks to NGNs, and will create a platform for future deployment of broadband voice, data, video and multimedia services to business and residential customers across Taiwan."

Chunghwa Telecom's NGN network will be based on Nortel Networks Succession Communication Server (CS) 2000-Compact superclass softswitch and Nortel Networks Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5200, which positions service providers to drive new revenue-generating services and lower operating costs.

Succession CS 2000 is a superclass softswitch that can position service providers to economically serve business, residential and transit markets with a comprehensive set of services designed to address opportunities for generating new revenues. A superclass softswitch provides true service provider circuit-to-packet migration including local, tandem and long distance capability on single platform, full business and residential telephony service sets. It also provides carrier-grade reliability, scalability and regulatory features such as lawful intercept and number portability. Nortel Networks MCS 5200, part of Nortel Networks Multimedia Communications portfolio, is a carrier-grade, SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)-based media and applications server. Leveraging an open, standards-based architecture and commercially available hardware and software, it gives service providers the ability to offer advanced multimedia services and seamlessly integrates voice with video collaboration applications to businesses and consumers.