Alcatel-Lucent  on Friday signed partnership agreement with the French defense agency. The Private Partnership (PPP) is backed by a 16-year contract valued at Eur 350 million.

As part of this contract, Alcatel-Lucent - as the consortium lead - will coordinate the design, deployment, financing, management and maintenance of IP (Internet Protocol)-based telecommunication networks at French metropolitan air force bases. These networks will carry general air force base data as well as information pertaining to military air control and airspace protection over metropolitan France.

INEO, through its subsidiary INEO Defense, will manage the design of service and security architectures, the equipment integration in this infrastructure, the deployment, the maintenance as well as the co-management of this project with Alcatel-Lucent.

The installation will affect approximately 106 metropolitan sites, i.e. more than 36,000 access points and around 1,500 to 2,000 buildings.

The solution uses standard high-tech civilian equipment that meets military security requirements.  Moving to all-IP technology will provide compartmentalization and security for different network components as well as more flexibility to handle changes in speed and topology.

In addition, an operations, maintenance and security supervision body has been established to meet the higher availability and continuity of service requirements of a military environment, while providing the ability to adapt to future changes required by the French government.

On a voluntary basis, technical staff from the Ministry will be offered new career opportunities by the industrial partners.

The partnership contract includes a construction phase (three years) from 2011 to 2014 and a network operation phase, which will last until 2027. In addition, existing equipment will be replaced over the course of the project to ensure optimal operational conditions.

“We are pleased to support, on a long-term basis, the Ministry of Defense in its modernization effort, thanks to this innovative public-private partnership,” said Pascal Homsy, CEO Alcatel-Lucent France.

 “At the heart of our expertise, this partnership is the fruit of a deep collaboration of experienced professionals knowing very well the challenges of defense, and who took particular care to propose very innovative and reliable solutions to meet the need of air force operational teams,” add Guy Lacroix INEO CEO.