Worldmax selects Alcatel-Lucent to deploy one of the first commercial WiMAX 802.16e networks in Western Europe

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that it has been selected by Worldmax, a new and innovative broadband wireless access provider in The Netherlands, to deploy one of Western Europe’s first commercial WiMAX 802.16e-2005 (Rev-e) networks in Worldmax’s 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum.

Worldmax is the owner of the nationwide and exclusive 3.5GHz license for the Dutch market and will therefore be the first service provider to offer its subscribers mobile wireless high-speed broadband internet access coupled with excellent indoor coverage. WiMAX is a flexible wireless technology that enables people to access high-speed, high-quality broadband wireless services wherever they are, providing truly broadband wireless access.

“We selected Alcatel-Lucent after a stringent search and are confident that Alcatel-Lucent is the right partner to deploy such an innovative network. We were looking for a flexible solution, which is easy to deploy and expand as our business grows. Alcatel-Lucent has proven to be the right partner for all our needs based on their track record worldwide,” says Jeanine van der Vlist, CEO Worldmax. Alcatel-Lucent will provide its end-to-end WiMAX solution, including base stations, wireless access controllers and core equipment. Alcatel-Lucent will also be responsible for project management and integration of the network.

“As one of the first operators in Western Europe to commercially introduce WiMAX Rev-e services, Worldmax is truly a pioneer when it comes to the introduction of personal mobile broadband, and we look forward being the partner of choice for Worldmax to enable customers in the Netherlands to enjoy fast, reliable Internet connections,” says Frederic Rose, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Europe, Asia and Africa region. “The contract with Worldmax underscores Alcatel-Lucent Wimax performance as well, since it will be among the first deployments to highlight the indoor coverage of Alcatel-Lucent’s WiMAX capabilities. Both Alcatel-Lucent and Worldmax are committed to make WiMAX a useful new technology for the people of The Netherlands.”

With more than 70 pilots and deployments across the world and 22 commercial contracts signed since the beginning of 2007, Alcatel-Lucent is No. 1 in the worldwide WiMAX market.

Alcatel-Lucent’s Universal WiMAX solution integrates the latest technological innovations, such as “beam forming”* and MIMO**. Beam forming enables a service provider to dramatically reduce the number of radio sites needed to provide coverage – in some instances by as much as 40 percent – while reducing interference and ensuring better indoor penetration of the radio signal. MIMO helps make radio links more robust, nearly doubling the capacity delivered in dense urban environments.