Russia, Alcatel-Lucent extends JV to develop LTE components

R&D centre to come up in St. Petersburg with full integration to Alcatel-Lucent's wireless operations
State Corporation Russian Technologies and Alcatel-Lucent have expanded their joint venture, Alcatel-Lucent RT, to develop and manufacture Long Term Evolution (LTE) components customised for the Russian market.
The companies will set up a R&D Center in St. Petersburg operated by Alcatel-Lucent RT that will be fully integrated with Alcatel-Lucent's wireless operations.
Russian experts will be employed in the centre to ensure a focus on the development of LTE specific features for the Russian market.
Alcatel-Lucent Russian Telecom Equipment Company (RTEC), an affiliate of State Corporation Russian Technologies, will manufacture the telecommunication products developed by the joint R&D Center. Bothe the companies have also agreed to explore a closer collaboration in submarine telecommunications networks.
State Corporation Russian Technologies general director SV Chemezov said joint R&D with such an experienced partner as Alcatel-Lucent - a leading company in the area of LTE technology - will help to develop Russian telecommunications as a science-intensive high-technology industry.
Alcatel-Lucent head of Business in CIS Alexander Tikhonov said their extended partnership with State Corporation Russian Technologies is the next step in Alcatel-Lucent's sustainable strategy of integration in Russia where they will be able to develop and enhance innovative and disruptive solutions such as lightRadio, the Alcatel-Lucent technology that enables universal broadband coverage.

News source: CBR