| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications software |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Fred Potter |
| Headquarters | Paris, |
Number of locations | 4 |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Patrick Bergougnou (CEO) |
| Products | Softswitch, SBC, IMS, Unified communications platforms |
| Website | https://www.cirpack.com/ |
Cirpack is a French telecommunications software company that develops core network and communication platforms for telecom operators, internet service providers and enterprise communication providers. [1] [2] The company specializes in software infrastructure for IP-based voice networks, including Next Generation Network (NGN) softswitches, Session Border Controllers (SBC) and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) platforms. [3] [4]
Cirpack technologies are used by telecommunications operators to deploy and operate voice and multimedia communication services across fixed and mobile networks. These services include VoIP telephony, SIP trunking, IP Centrex, Cloud PBX, Fixed Mobile Convergence, and mobile voice services such as Voice over LTE (VoLTE), Wi-Fi calling (VoWiFi) and Voice over New Radio (VoNR). [5] [6] [7]
The company’s software platforms are designed to support the transition of telecommunications networks toward all-IP infrastructures and to enable interoperability between telecom systems through the use of industry standards such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and architectures defined by organizations including the 3GPP and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Cirpack says its solutions are used by more than 120 telecom customers across three continents and by more than 60 million business and residential end users daily. [8] [9]
Cirpack was founded in 1999 by French telecommunications engineer Fred Potter as a spin-off from the long-distance carrier Kaptech. [10] Kaptech had developed expertise in switching technologies and international voice routing, and Cirpack was created to address the transition of telecommunications networks from circuit-switched infrastructures toward packet-based communications. From its inception, the company focused on software platforms enabling telecommunications operators to migrate legacy voice networks toward Voice over IP (VoIP) and Next Generation Network (NGN) architectures. [11]
During the early 2000s, Cirpack developed softswitch platforms used by telecommunications operators, internet service providers and wholesale carriers to deploy IP-based telephony services. These platforms allowed operators to route voice traffic through IP networks while maintaining interoperability with traditional Time-division multiplexing (TDM) infrastructure during the migration toward all-IP networks. [12]
In April 2005, Cirpack was acquired by Thomson SA, later renamed Technicolor. [13] [14] As part of Technicolor's telecommunications equipment portfolio, Cirpack continued developing software platforms for IP-based voice networks and operator interconnection infrastructures.
In 2010, Cirpack introduced a Session Border Controller (SBC) product line designed to secure and manage SIP interconnections between VoIP networks and telecom operators. [15] In 2011, the company expanded its portfolio with application platforms supporting advanced telephony features and unified communication services. [16]
In April 2014, Patrick Bergougnou became Chief Executive Officer of Cirpack. [17] Under his leadership the company began repositioning itself toward software-driven telecommunications platforms and enterprise communication services delivered through telecom operators. [18]
In 2015, Cirpack completed a management buyout and raised €3 million from financial backers including Bpifrance and Midi Capital. [19] [20] In July of the same year, the company acquired Andrexen, a French developer of Voice over IP and unified communications software. [21] The acquisition expanded Cirpack’s capabilities in enterprise communication services.
In September 2016, Cirpack acquired Amplement, a French professional social networking platform. [22] Cirpack said the acquisition was intended to enrich its collaboration and unified communications capabilities. [23]
Over time, Cirpack expanded its software portfolio to address the evolution of telecommunications infrastructures toward all-IP and mobile broadband networks. In addition to softswitch and SBC platforms, the company developed solutions based on IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architectures used by telecom operators to deliver multimedia communication services across fixed and mobile networks. [24] These technologies support mobile voice services such as Voice over LTE (VoLTE), Wi-Fi calling (VoWiFi) and Voice over New Radio (VoNR), enabling telecom operators to deploy native voice services in 4G and 5G mobile networks and to support fixed–mobile convergence. [25] [26]
Cirpack also developed service platforms enabling telecom operators and service providers to deliver enterprise communication services such as IP Centrex and Cloud PBX. These platforms are typically provided by telecom operators to business customers as part of unified communications and hosted telephony services. [27] [28]
The company further expanded its product ecosystem with mobile communication applications such as UP! (Uniquity Pocket), a softphone application allowing users to place and receive calls from smartphones using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) account associated with an operator or enterprise communication platform. [29]
In 2026, Cirpack and Halys announced the integration of their respective platforms to deliver a private 5G solution with native VoNR capabilities for industrial and enterprise environments. [30] [31]