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BT selects Alcatel to deliver fixed-mobile convergence services to its enterprise customers


WEBWIRE

Paris, May 11, 2006 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced that it has been selected by BT Group plc as prime contractor and systems integrator for a fixed-mobile managed communication solution for enterprise customers in the UK and Europe based on its IMS compliant Corporate Mobility Manager. Named “Enterprise Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) ”, BT’s project is expected to be commercially deployed early in 2007.

As prime contractor, Alcatel will lead the design, integration (including a number of third-party components) and testing of the end-to-end solution. Alcatel will supply key platform elements from its leading Managed Communication Services (MCS) portfolio and will also ensure that the solution integrates seamlessly into BT’s enterprise customer sites.

The Alcatel-primed consortium includes Lucent Technologies (who will provide the Lucent VPN Firewall and VitalAAA security products and design team specialists).

BT’s project will allow enterprise users to be reachable on a dual mode handset using one single phone number. They can make and receive both fixed and mobile calls using the network most economical for each call.

This project targets BT’s large business customers in the UK as well as multinational corporate customers throughout Europe, and will provide services across any GSM network or available wireless local area network (WLAN) infrastructure (e.g., WiFi). While being able to move freely within their “campus”, BT enterprise users will be able to access both personal and corporate directory information from anywhere. In addition, users located in a branch site - or employees travelling or working from home with a broadband connection or WiFi access - can enjoy exactly the same features as if they are working in the office.

“Typical enterprise customers today have multiple devices on multiple networks generating multiple bills and service interfaces,” said Steven Evans, BT’s Chief of Wireless Broadband and Future Products. “The Enterprise FMC” project provides one simple experience for the user whilst creating additional value from the device and network through cost savings and enhanced efficiency".

This contract builds upon Alcatel’s successful relationship with BT, following its role as prime integrator for BT Fusion (the consumer fixed-mobile convergence service), as equipment and solutions supplier for BT Communicator (the world’s largest SIP deployment) as well as for the 21st Century Network (21CN) - BT’s next-generation network (NGN) transformation program.

“Alcatel’s extensive services integration experience with complex multi-vendor projects was a key asset in the deployment of BT’s highly successful Fusion project,” said Monika Maurer, president of Alcatel’s fixed solutions activities. “This new project represents a major step towards the delivery of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-enabled services. We look forward to working with BT as they pave the way to making fixed-mobile convergence a reality in the enterprise world.”

About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in more than 160 Countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale. In the year ended 31 March 2005, BT Group’s revenue was £18,623 million with profit before taxation of £2,354 million. British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt

About the Alcatel solution
Based on Alcatel’s innovative SIP-based Intelligent Mobile Redirect (IMR) solution, this project features the Alcatel 8640 Corporate Mobility Manager (CMM) hosted on the Alcatel 8690 Open Services Platform (OSP). The Alcatel 8640 CMM will allow BT to deliver enterprise telephony/virtual PBX features from their network. Alcatel will also provide the client software that enables these services. The Alcatel 8640 CMM offers advanced fixed-mobile convergence services, enhanced voice/multimedia virtual private network (VPN) and virtual PBX services. The Alcatel 8690 OSP, one of Alcatel’s next-generation service delivery platforms that is already deployed in BT’s network, supports the installed base of existing services while providing a seamless evolution to new NGN/IMS multimedia services. The Alcatel 8690 OSP also allows service providers to reduce operational costs (by integrating their service network with existing front- and back-office OSS/BSS) while guaranteeing fast time-to-market for these new services.

About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or to their employees. Alcatel leverages its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services to bring value to its customers in the framework of a broadband world. With sales of Euro 13.1 billion and 58,000 employees in 2005, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, http://www.alcatel.com



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