Verizon Bets $6bn On VOIP And Video Calling

Verizon and Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) just inked an equipment deal to upgrade the CDMA carrier’s wireless network. Alcatel-Lucent will get $6 billion to provide 3 years worth of gear and tech support to expand Verizon (NYSE: VZ)’s network. “The Network” wants to add VOIP and video calling features to its, uh, network. In order to enable these features digital microwave radios, optical cross-connects and bandwidth management devices from Alcatel-Lucent will be added to the current infrastructure. Verizon is pushing for an all-IP based network and the integration of these new services will help make that a reality.