Alcatel-Lucent research center successfully completes first field trial of advanced WiMAX technology in India

Barcelona, February 15, 2007 - Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced the C-Dot Alcatel-Lucent Research Centre (CARC) in Chennai, India successfully completed the country’s first live WiMAX IEEE 802.16e-2005 (also called Rev-e) field trial using Aircel’s licensed spectrum, confirming this technology is ready for commercial deployment.
The trials were conducted using the 2.5GHz band and successfully demonstrated applications in moving conditions such as video streaming, high-speed file downloads, Voice over IP (VoIP) and Web browsing.
“WiMAX technology is likely to become a widely used high-speed Internet access technology like DSL and cable modem access.By offering customized, cost-effective enterprise solutions using next-generation technologies such as WiMAX, Aircel aims to become the ‘Service Provider of Choice’ for enterprise, SMEs and corporate clients,” said Jagdish Kini, Group Chief Executive Officer, Aircel, stated. “Alcatel-Lucent’s WiMAX solutions and their capability to offer higher throughput are poised to address service providers’ challenges to offer reliable & affordable broadband services bundled with VoIP.”
“Alcatel-Lucent and Aircel both see WiMAX Rev-e as a revolutionary broadband access technology,” said Patrick Veron, CEO, C-DOT Alcatel-Lucent Research Centre. “The success of WiMAX Rev-e trials is another milestone for CARC and Alcatel-Lucent, as these trials reinforce our technological leadership for broadband wireless access in the country. This technology enable the subscribers in urban and rural areas to enjoy wireless broadband access services any time, any where. WiMAX has the potential to provide India with widespread broadband access that can usher in economic growth, better education and health care, and improved entertainment services as it has done elsewhere in the world.”

About WiMAX:
WiMAX (802.16e-2005) stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. It enables Voice and Broadband connectivity for fixed, nomadic or mobile use in urban, suburban and rural areas. For more information about WiMAX: please click here



About Aircel Business Solutions (ABS)
Aircel Business Solutions (ABS), a part of Aircel, is headquartered in Chennai and is an ISO 9000 certified company. ABS is a registered member of WiMAX forum – both in the Indian and International Chapters. ABS’s product range includes a host of cutting-edge enterprise solutions such as Multi Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Networks (MPLS VPNs), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Managed Video Services on wireless platform including WiMAX. ABS is the first operator in the county to have deployed WIMAX with PAN city coverage and among top five players across the globe. Main benefit of WIMAX for ABS is that it is able to offer very high uptime for end to end connectivity with SLA (Service level agreement) as it owns the last mile access using WIMAX technology.



About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With 79,000 employees and operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved proforma combined revenues of Euro 18.6 billion in 2005, and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. [All figures exclude impact of activities to be transferred to Thales]. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

Contact the Alcatel-Lucent Press Office: press@alcatel-lucent.com

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Régine Coqueran

Alcatel-Lucent

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