Bell Canada expands Lucent DSL deal

Bell Canada today extended the DSL equipment contract of Lucent Technologies and will become the first carrier to deploy the vendor’s Sting Compact Remote.

Additionally, Bell Canada has agreed to migrate its voice messaging service to Lucent’s AnyPath Messaging System, which allows users to access and manage voicemail, e-mail, faxes, text messages and voice-controlled Web-browsing over any type of end device.

Under terms of the DSL deal, Lucent will supply equipment for network buildouts in Ontario and Quebec. The initiative is part of Bell Canada's evolution to a next-gen network and designed to expand the carrier’s Sympatico high-speed Internet service.

Bell Canada will use the Stinger Compact Remote, which will be combined with Stinger FS+ and Lucent’s NavisAccess DSL management system. The end result will give Bell Canada the ability to offer integrated IP-based voice, data and video services.

"This is taking our FS+ and putting it in the central office and taking the Stinger remote and deploying this further out," said a Lucent spokesman.

The carrier has been testing video services in Toronto for some time using Next Level gear but has yet to make any commitments beyond the initial test phase.