Italian broadcaster Mediaset selects Alcatel-Lucent’s solution for its M-Tube nation-wide optical infrastructure

Facilitating delivery of high-definition video and access to personalized audio-visual services

Paris — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU)today announced that Mediaset, a leading Italian broadcaster, has selected Alcatel-Lucent’s solution, based on its advanced multi-reach dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) platform, for the deployment of a nation-wide terrestrial and submarine transport infrastructure. Named M-Tube, this new high-speed optical infrastructure will interconnect Mediaset’s 17 regional headquarters facilitating the delivery of high-definition video content across the Italian peninsula and its islands. M-Tube will also enable Italian end-users to access personalized audio-visual services.

M-Tube, a carrier infrastructure for integrated production and TV broadcasting services, will support a significant change in the operational paradigm. Today, audio-video streams are injected into the networks of service providers and distributed to the end-users. Tomorrow, M-Tube will be able to place such audio-video streams on video servers directly accessible by the end-users.

“We are enthusiastic about Mediaset’s spearheading project that is paving the way of highest service reliability and enhanced operational efficiency for optimized service delivery,” said Adolfo Hernandez, President for Alcatel-Lucent’s activities in Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Thanks to the full commitment of our solutions and service team we will help the Italian leading broadcaster to deploy an advanced optical transport infrastructure to greatly enhance business-critical communications and services among across its sites.”

Alcatel-Lucent will deliver a turn-key terrestrial and submarine network solution: the terrestrial supply will be based on the Alcatel-Lucent 1626 Light Manager, an advanced multi-reach dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) platform that improves network efficiency, while reducing operational costs. Alcatel-Lucent will also deploy two unrepeated submarine links connecting Mazara del Vallo, in Sicily, to Santa Ventrace, in Sardinia, and Golfo Aranci, in Sardinia, to Pomezia, in Italy’s mainland. The terrestrial and submarine solution will be complemented by a comprehensive range of network integration and support services, including installation and commissioning and maintenance.

About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 16.98 billion in 2008 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com