Businessweek

Alcatel-Lucent provides networking and communications technology, products, and services worldwide. Segments The company operates through three segments: Networks; S3 (Software, Services, and Solutions); and Enterprise. NETWORKS This segment supplies a portfolio of network products and offerings used by fixed, wireless, and converged service providers to help them address these changing telecommunications market needs, and to enterprises and governments for their business critical communications. In 2012, this segment was organized into four businesses, such as Internet Protocol (IP), Optics, Wireless, and Wireline. IP The company’s IP division develops a portfolio of service routers and switches that are designed to support IP-based applications and services. These applications and services include broadband triple play (voice, video, and data) services for residential customers; business Internet, Ethernet, and IP virtual private network (VPN) services for enterprise customers; mobile backhaul, next-generation mobile packet core, and wireless local area network (LAN) gateway capabilities for second generation (2G), third generation (3G), and fourth generation (4G)/long term evolution (LTE) mobile; and Wi-Fi services for mobile customers. The major product families within the IP portfolio are: IP/Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) Core and Edge Routers: These products direct traffic within and between carriers’ national and international networks to enable delivery of a range of IP-based services (including Internet access, IP TV, voice over IP, mobile phone, and data and managed business VPNs) on a single common network infrastructure with application intelligence. Carrier Ethernet Access and Aggregation Switch/Routers: These platforms and devices enable carriers to deliver advanced residential, business, and mobile backhaul services. These products are primarily used in metropolitan area networks, which span across a city or large campus. Service Aggregation Routers: These platforms are optimized to facilitate the transition from legacy networking technologies to next generation carrier Ethernet/packet networking, and are deployed for mobile backhauling, business services, and fixed network aggregation. Service Aware Management: These products help manage various parts of the IP/MPLS network and help service providers with simplified processes to allow new services, proactive troubleshooting, and streamlined integration within their existing networks. Multi-service Wide-Area-Network Switches: These switches enable fixed line and wireless carriers to transition their existing networks to support newer technologies and services. Content Delivery Network Appliances: These devices distribute and store Web and video content. They deliver various video and other content to businesses and consumers in ways, as well as providing opportunities for new business relationships between service providers and content providers. The following were some of the company’s major areas of focus and investment in 2012: FP3 Network Processor: The company focuses on multi-dimensional IP platform scaling (covering capacity, services, and control plane) with its silicon innovation, its in-house designed 400 gigabits per second (Gbps) FP3 network processor. This chipset helps service providers deliver voice, data, and video services at the highest speeds. Core Router Platform: The company launched the 7950 Extensible Routing System portfolio, a new generation of core IP routers designed to help service providers address the growth of data traffic on core networks. Enhanced IP Edge Routing Features: The company develops advanced features for its IP edge routers to improve current applications. Such advancements include policy management for residential services, advanced video delivery, and transition to the latest IP standard, IPv6. The company has also delivered integrated advanced threat management onto its routers, utilizing software from Arbor Networks, a provider of network security and management solutions for data centers and carrier networks. Mobile Backhaul: The company is extendin