Alcatel-Lucent Debuts ISAM Release 4.3, Adding 10G GPON and Multiple New ISAM Portfolio Elements

Event Summary

February 3, 2011 -- Alcatel-Lucent announced the latest release of its Intelligent Services Access Manager (ISAM) IP access platform, 4.3, which includes commercial availability of four-port 10G GPON line cards, as well as an array of ISAM solution set enhancements not detailed in the press release, including the new FX series of ISAM shelves which feature dual 100 Gbps backplane capacity, 480 Gbps controller (NT) cards (supporting 40 Gbps/slot), and an eight-port EPON line card for the Chinese market.

Quick Take

Analytical Summary

• Current Perspective: Positive on Alcatel-Lucent’s ISAM Release 4.3. Curiously, the press release focuses overwhelmingly on the new 10G GPON capability, while other, arguably more important elements of Release 4.3 received little mention. However, the relevance of Release 4.3 is very high, as it dramatically improves Alcatel-Lucent’s overall competitive positioning in the fiber access market, and it will enable the company’s operator customers to leverage new, very high-capacity (and 10G-capable) OLT platforms, and thereby address the ever-increasing demand for ultra-broadband, over both fixed and wireless networks.

• Vendor Importance: Very high to Alcatel-Lucent, which needed to incorporate these new Release 4.3 enhancements into the ISAM portfolio in order to remain competitive with its most direct rivals in the evolving fiber access market. With R4.3, Alcatel-Lucent has taken several major steps forward in terms of expanding its OLT portfolio, most notably, with the new FX series of ISAM shelves and the new 480Gbps FANT-F controller cards.

• Market Impact: Very high on the next-generation fiber access market, because with ISAM Release 4.3, Alcatel-Lucent serves notice to its competitors that has every intention of retaining its very strong presence in the global fixed access market (i.e., as operators transition from predominantly copper-based networks to full-fiber networks). These enhancements will enable Alcatel-Lucent to remain at the forefront of the fiber access competitive landscape and compel rival FTTH systems vendors to match or beat Alcatel-Lucent with portfolio upgrades of their own, or risk falling behind in these crucial OLT speeds/feeds capabilities.

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