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Tekelec Extends Relationship with T-Mobile to the United Kingdom
February 27, 2008

Tekelec has recently won an order to upgrade the T-Mobile UK signaling network. The deployment delivers IP-based signaling into the network to ensure the smooth transition to an all-IP network.

This is the third order T-Mobile has signed with Tekelec in Europe over the past year, and follows the successful roll-out of Tekelec’s SIGTRAN —Internet protocol (IP)-based Signaling System 7 (SS7) solution, running on the EAGLE Signaling Solution platform at T-Mobile Germany and T-Mobile Netherlands.

“Tekelec addressed our requirements efficiently and cost-effectively while at the same time ensuring our network is future-proof” said David James, head of network planning and development, T-Mobile UK. “We have selected Tekelec for their superior solution, their strong local presence, and their successful implementation of this technology with other mobile operators in the UK and abroad.”

The deployment helps maximize the efficiency of T-Mobile UK’s existing network resources, enables the migration of subscribers to new technologies and provides additional security and screening functions. The deployment also supports the smooth introduction of roaming services and provides interoperability between networks with disparate technologies.

Introducing SIGTRAN into the signaling network is the “stepping stone” for migrating to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture. The introduction of standards-based SIGTRAN, which is fully compatible with the existing SS7 signaling network, increases signaling capacity at a lower cost. The underlying IP infrastructure can be leveraged for the parallel evolution from SS7 to SIP—as SIP signaling is able to traverse over the same quality of service-enabled IP network.

“Tekelec technology is now deployed in two of the four tier-one mobile networks in the UK, a testament to our commitment to delivering innovative, reliable, high-quality signaling solutions for today and for the future,” said Wolrad Claudy, Tekelec’s managing director for Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. “We’re privileged to be working with such a progressive company as T-Mobile as they evolve their networks to accommodate growth and offer new services. This roll-out places us at the heart of their signaling network and further enhances our international relationship.”