SupportSoft, a leading provider of Real-Time Service Management (RTSM) software, today announced that FASTWEB S.p.A. (Milan, MTAX: FWB), Italy's second-largest fixed telecommunications services provider with more than 790,000 subscribers, has deployed SupportSoft software to ease the installation and ongoing support of its triple-play service offerings. FASTWEB selected SupportSoft SmartAccess software for automated installation of DSL broadband VoIP and Internet services. FASTWEB also chose SupportSoft ServiceGateway software to provide wireless home networking and gateway management for its array of IP service offerings.

FASTWEB's Internet Protocol (IP) based architecture enables the optimized delivery of converged services including voice, data and television over a single broadband connection. According to market analysis from Ovum, the largest European-headquartered advisor on telecoms, software and IT services, "FASTWEB has been resolutely tagged with the triple-play label. This is far from wrong, and we ourselves have praised its efforts in this area. The company is one of the few to have had a network fully geared up for delivering video from its launch, and has taken full advantage of this.(1)"

"Concluding a comprehensive review of alternative solutions, we chose SupportSoft software because it met our criteria for delivering a consistent customer experience for FASTWEB's IPbased services subscribers," said Antonio Carlini, ICT Solutions Manager for FASTWEB. "SupportSoft demonstrated its software's ability to integrate with Thomson customer premises equipment and interoperate in accordance with the DSL Forum's TR-069 specification. SupportSoft also demonstrated itself as an effective organization to support FASTWEB in all phases of the project: analysis and design, development and rollout. The software gives FASTWEB the ability to automate the installation and ongoing customer support process, so that subscribers can realize the value of their services faster, with reduced requests for assistance during the activation phase and overall improvement of quality of their experience."

"As a European trailblazer in triple play services based on its innovative deployment of both DSL and fiber-based technology, we are delighted that FASTWEB has chosen to further innovate with its choice of SupportSoft SmartAccess and ServiceGateway software for new voice, video and high speed data services," said James Morehead, vice president of product management and marketing at Supportsoft. "FASTWEB's decision is closely aligned with the SupportSoft Digital 3600 product vision, which provides for one view of both the network and the household premises for precise problem diagnosis and automated resolution, helping consumers get the most from triple play services, while reducing the cost of service delivery for the provider."