Du TV+: The next generation interactive TV arrives in the Middle East by Alcatel Lucent

The new IPTV service has been enabled by Alcatel-Lucent's IPTV solution designed based upon the Microsoft Mediaroom middleware platform, Alcatel-Lucent Operations and Service Fulfilment solutions and complemented with some custom-specific applications and services.

With this solution, Du surpasses their previous IPTV service offering in order to give its customers an unparalleled user experience.

Mediaroom, a solution which changed the concept of IPTV, powers services for more than 3 million subscribers worldwide and is the world's most deployed IPTV middleware according to data from Screen Digest. This offers Du customers a significantly improved television and multimedia service. Highlights include user friendly features such as: high definition channels, instant channel change and easy on screen Guide. On the other side, Alcatel-Lucent applications enriched the offer with FAQs.

With the launch, Du consolidates its pioneering position in the Middle East as an IPTV services provider, and joins a global base of telecom service providers around the world that rely on Alcatel-Lucent's end-to-end video network and system integration expertise including professional services such as solution architecture and design, validation, project management, optimization and maintenance.

"This launch represents a major expansion of our service offerings, which now includes high-quality video entertainment and content services,"

said Farid Faraidooni, EVP Commercial, Du.

"For this project, Alcatel-Lucent proved they had the end-to-end expertise and integration experience to help us transform our network and business to enable us to provide more and better services to our customers."

"This launch sets the stage for the convergence of the telecommunications and entertainment industries in the Middle East and gives Du an important new tool to expand its relationship with its subscribers by supporting a range of compelling new services," said Adolfo Hernandez, president of Alcatel-Lucent's activities for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

"The successful delivery of advanced entertainment service by a leading Middle Eastern operator such as Du is a milestone for Alcatel-Lucent, enhancing our real-world experience in bringing IPTV and entertainment services to the market."

Colin Morrison, director of sales in EMEA for Microsoft's TV, Video and Music Business, said, "In migrating its IPTV service to the Mediaroom platform Du is able to add HD and advanced digital video recording and video-on-demand features and further differentiate its service through an applications environment that allows them to easily develop and deploy customized interactive applications."

Alcatel-Lucent is a recognized leader in IPTV, occupying the No. 1 position in IPTV access and middleware solutions delivery worldwide - according to the most recent MRG IPTV Market Leaders Report (August 2008). Alcatel-Lucent is the global leader in end-to-end video integration across fixed and mobile networks with over 100 video network projects deployed.

The company is also involved in more than 55 triple play service delivery architecture (TPSDA) deployments, and more than 60 IPTV transformation and integration projects. These transformation projects leverage Alcatel-Lucent's extensive field deployment experience and lab investments in next generation IP Transformation Centers (IPTCs) and dedicated IPTV Network Solution Integration & Testing lab (NSIT) to reduce time to market and mitigate deployment risk.