Carolina West Wireless deploys Alcatel-Lucent’s pre-paid wireless hosted services

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) and Carolina West Wireless, a regional service provider based in North Carolina, today announced that the carrier has deployed the Alcatel-Lucent hosted pre-paid wireless solution to quickly bring new offers to customers.

The new pre-paid service, through its real time rating and charging engine, will allow Carolina West and other service providers to offer prepaid, postpaid, and hybrid plans for voice, SMS, data, and content.

While Alcatel-Lucent has deployed several hosted services worldwide, Carolina West Wireless is the first North America operator to use the Alcatel-Lucent pre-paid wireless hosted service.

Under the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will host the pre-paid service in an Alcatel-Lucent data center facility located in Lisle, Illinois, integrate the application with Carolina West’s network, and manage it with around-the-clock monitoring and support.

“Carolina West Wireless selected Alcatel-Lucent’s hosted service because it provides the flexibility to focus on a customer segment we do not currently serve. The Alcatel-Lucent pre-paid technology is a solid proven platform, deployed in networks around the world” said Slayton Stewart, chief executive officer of Carolina West Wireless. “With a strong partner like Alcatel-Lucent, Carolina West Wireless is assured the application and operations are in good hands. Carolina West Wireless can focus its efforts on attracting new customers with innovative pre-paid plans that meet their unique needs.”

Alcatel-Lucent is also providing the support of its Market Advantage Program (MAP) to help Carolina West market the new offer. The Alcatel-Lucent MAP helps service providers and other customers Identify market opportunities, develop marketing plans and accelerate sales success. MAP provides a host of tools, training, and research and analysis support that helps providers gain a competitive advantage to identify the most promising new market and revenue opportunities.

“We are bringing Carolina West our full knowledge and experience of hosted services to support its new pre-paid offer, enabling them to bring their customers more flexibility and improved time to market” said John Meyer, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s services activities.

Alcatel-Lucent Managed and Hosted Services (MHS) offer customers ready-to-use application services and operates them on their behalf. The Alcatel-Lucent MHS team designs, builds, and manages revenue-generating consumer and enterprise applications for its customers using a software-as-a-service (SAAS) model. MHS services from Alcatel-Lucent allow customers to adapt to current market trends requiring them to reduce their time-to-market and mitigate risks, while allowing them also to focus on increasing market share and revenue. The worldwide portfolio of revenue-generating applications is delivered through the Alcatel-Lucent Global Network Operation and Services Expertise Centers.


About Carolina West
Carolina West Wireless began offering residents in northwestern North Carolina high-tech wireless solutions from a locally owned company in September of 1991. Carolina West Wireless is owned by a partnership consisting of Skyline Telephone Membership Corporation, Surry Telephone Membership Corporation and Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation. Headquartered in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Carolina West Wireless CEO Slayton Stewart and his staff are committed to providing their customers innovative technology including data and mobile services, the latest wireless equipment and competitive wireless plans that provide nationwide coverage. For more information, visit external linkwww.carolinawest.com.

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 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 adjusted proforma revenues of Euro 18.3 billion in 2006 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. [All figures exclude impact of activities 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