Video: 10 Minute IT Jams - An update from Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise is shaping the future of digital communication and networking in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The company, known for providing next-generation ICT infrastructure, is now focusing on delivering tailored solutions for industries seeking robust digital transformation.

During an interview, Philip Leterrier, Senior Vice President of Sales, and Mor Vast, Country Business Lead for Australia and New Zealand, outlined how Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise's (ALE) wide portfolio addresses the evolving demands of connectivity, cloud, and security. 

Leterrier explained, "We are a global ICT vendor. We make everything connect by delivering digital edge infrastructure networks and communication, included on-premises or in a hybrid model." ALE's offerings span core and data centre infrastructure, industrial-grade switches, and location-based services that empower asset tracking and even contact tracing. A pivotal part of the strategy is the Omnivista single management platform, available both on-premises and in the cloud, which enables customers to manage "our full portfolio as a single pane of glass," he said.

ALE's value proposition lies in combining comprehensive networking with advanced communication services, from secure enterprise comms solutions like Omnipaxics to collaborative cloud platforms such as Rainbow. Leterrier described Rainbow as enabling "unified communication service," available in hybrid and full cloud modes, for "all communication and collaboration services from the cloud." The platform's flexibility is extended through Rainbow Wedge, catering to customers "willing to have the full operation of the service" privately deployed.

Crucially, ALE's rainbow platform also acts as a communications platform-as-a-service (CPaaS). "Rainbow enables our communication platform as a service, so CPaaS, into business applications and processes, as well as to enable a workflow driven services," Leterrier added.

ALE targets vertical markets including government, healthcare, education, transportation, energy, utilities, and hospitality, aiming to deliver sector-specific solutions. "We focus on targeted verticals... it's really to guarantee the fit of our solutions to these sectors by having a deep understanding of these industries, their challenges, [and] their objectives," Leterrier said. This approach ensures solutions remain "full in line with the global and local regulations," supporting customers' digital transformation objectives.

ALE's renewed emphasis on networking strategically addresses the surging number of connected devices and growing cybersecurity concerns. "With the rise of connected devices, IoT, also concerns on cyber security, the network market is very, very dynamic. Our strategy is to provide secure IoT multi-service networks with network automation facilitating the deployment of new connected equipment, enabling new services, while guaranteeing the best level of security," Leterrier explained.

This security-centric approach is built on three steps: discovering and classifying devices, automated segmentation to associate devices with secure containers on a single network, and continuous quality monitoring. The result, he said, is that IT teams "have a full visibility on devices connected to their network and can guarantee the best quality of service with well-defined granularity of services associated to specific security containers." This, he noted, "also improves the overall security of the infrastructure."

Innovation remains core to ALE's identity. Leterrier called it "part of our DNA," referencing the company's legacy of over a century in ICT. Their latest roadmap includes the introduction of MPLS-native switches for mid-sized companies, updates to its Stellar wireless range with Wi-Fi 7, and integration with major video management systems for improved edge device management. He highlighted their joining of significant research collaborations, "for example we are part of a European Union research program called Cortex II, bringing extended reality to the collaboration experience," as well as participation in the Pliat Consortium for "the mastered and secured circulation of edge data."

The aim is to merge operational technology (OT) with information technology (IT), tailored for high-density venues such as university campuses, airports and stadiums. "This will make sure to address the needs of high bandwidth and high density of people," Leterrier said, adding that bringing AI to edge data would ultimately "offer controlled access to structured and enriched health data to medical staff with the ultimate goal to have better care for patients."

Cybersecurity is a continuous focus, with Leterrier underlining that, "cyber security is really at the core of our development process to always minimise the attack surface of our solutions being linked to new developments or integration of external components."

On the ground in APAC, ALE leverages a strong partnership-led model. Mor Vast explained, "We have an indirect go-to-market model... We are very much working very closely with a broad network of partners in Apec and across the globe." This approach means both customers and industry partners have access to a rich ecosystem of local experts and accredited vendors. 

"In terms of the local resources, it's huge," Vast said, pointing to teams across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, including "pre-sales consultants, post-sales and professional services experts... we have a whole infrastructure of people here that engage our customers and our partners."

ALE's partner network ensures reach into specialist sectors. "We've got a rich set of partners that have their own strengths and capabilities... they may cater specifically to some of those industries that we've just mentioned here," Vast said.

As for how a business can start working with ALE, Vast keeps it simple. "We're here in country, so feel free to reach out to myself, but also to our partners. If you're interested in our solutions and really want to connect with us, I would say let them get in touch with me and I'll be happy to help them and make sure they got what they need," she said.

Leterrier concluded with a clear call to action, "There's definitely a very simple rule right: people engagement first and then people engagement."