Alcatel-Lucent Pairs with Accenture to Penetrate Enterprise Market

October 8, 2014

By J. Sharpe Smith

October 9, 2014 – Last week, Alcatel-Lucent formed an alliance with Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, to help communications service providers and large enterprises implement integrated broadband solutions. The alliance, known as Accenture Alcatel-Lucent Business Group, will explore small-cell wireless network solutions with a focus on integrating cellular technology and Wi-Fi.

Accenture will be Alcatel-Lucent’s preferred supplier for software and network integration services, and Alcatel-Lucent will be a preferred technology provider for Accenture’s customer care and small cell solutions needs.

“We look forward to working with Alcatel-Lucent to help fulfill the increasing demand for broadband services over wireless networks,” said Pierre Nanterme, chairman and CEO, Accenture. “The collaboration is consistent with our strategy of working at the heart of the digital ecosystem and growing our network services to enable communications service providers to undergo the transformation they need to thrive.”

Alcatel-Lucent reorganized in June 2013 and announced the three-year Shift Plan in which will shift its focus to its core networking segment (IP networking), broadband mobile and fixed access networks and rely on forming partnerships to speed market penetration. The Accenture alliance is in keeping with that plan.

“Our collaboration with Accenture is strategic to our growth as we work to enable our clients to deliver on consumers’ communications expectations,” said Michel Combes, CEO, Alcatel-Lucent. “By combining our outstanding IP platforms with Accenture’s consulting, systems integration, delivery and process optimization skills, we will be well-positioned to significantly and measurably improve the world’s communication experience.”

Accenture will provide Alcatel-Lucent with the connections it needs with Fortune 500 companies, but that does not necessarily mean it is the best choice for every company, James Carlini & Associates, a consultant, told AGL Small Cell Link.

“There are companies that want a large Mongolian herd of consultants to look at something, but other companies would rather have one or two consultants who really know their stuff and who won’t overstep the people in the organization,” Carlini said. “I competed with the Big 6 consulting firms for the Chicago 911 center and they hired my firm because, at that time, the police did not want to work with a bunch of consultants.”

Alcatel-Lucent/JCDecaux Combo Aimed at Street Furniture

The same day as the Accenture alliance announcement, Alcatel-Lucent publicized a partnership with JCDecaux, an outdoor advertising company, to develop connected street furniture. Alcatel-Lucent’s tests have demonstrated the relevance of combining its small cells with the street furniture developed by JCDecaux to improve connectivity in the city.

Personnel from each company are now working together in teams to optimize the aesthetic integration of small cells in street furniture in order to provide cities and telecom operators with a global solution that is in tune with the urban environment.

In August 2013, Alcatel-Lucent and Qualcomm announced their plan to collaborate on small cell base stations that enhance 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity in residential and enterprise environments. The partnership combines Alcatel-Lucent’s experience developing small cells with Qualcomm’s small-cell chipset expertise.

As part of the partnership, the two companies are jointly investing in a strategic R&D program to develop the next generation of Alcatel-Lucent lightRadio small cell products featuring Qualcomm Technologies’ FSM9900 family of small cell chipsets.