Morocco’s WANA and Alcatel-Lucent sign Euro 24 million frame agreement for wireless transmission and network integration services

Paris.- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) has signed a two-year frame-agreement, valued at Euro 24 million, with WANA, an operatorof fixed and mobile services in Morocco and a subsidiary of ONA group, to extend and upgrade its telecommunication network in Morocco. The deployment of Alcatel-Lucent’s next-generation wireless transmission solutions will enhance the capacity and extend the reach of WANA’s network, enabling it to better meet the increasing demand for advanced broadband services throughout the country.

Providing the flexibility required to support data and TDM services, Alcatel-Lucent’s wireless transmission solution will offer a seamless migration path to a next-generation, high-capacity microwave infrastructure, while enabling WANA to protect its previous investments. As traffic aggregation and transport from base stations to the core network will be optimized, WANA will be able to offer voice, video and data services with enhanced efficiency and superior quality of service.

“As fixed-mobile convergence is gaining momentum, we are committed to advancing Morocco’s communication capabilities to facilitate access to services for our end-users and further enhance our service portfolio’s competitiveness,”said Karim Zaz, Chief Executive Officer of WANA. “With its scalability and reliability, the Alcatel-Lucent wireless transmission solution is an optimal technological response to meet our customers’ need for high-quality, cost-effective broadband connections.”

The solution includes smooth, low-risk deployment and network optimization services that help enable top quality service for WANA subscribers. This network extension will help WANA further consolidate its expansion strategy to enhance communications across Morocco, bring broadband Internet access to remote areas and broaden its customer base, which currently includes more than one millionsubscribers.

“ This new contract further strengthens our cooperation with WANA and our local presence as a key telecom supplier in Africa and the Middle East,” said Frédéric Rose, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s business in Europe, Africa and Asia.“Our wireless transmission solution will help them accommodate increased traffic loads and minimize their total cost of network ownership.”

Under the terms of this frame-agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will supply its 9400 AWY for microwave edge links rollouts, its 9500 MXC - a compact, high-capacity platform supporting a wide range of applications including DSL and WiMAX backhauling, and its 9600 LSY for long-distance, high-capacity applications. The Alcatel-Lucent 1350 management suite will supervise the entire solution. Alcatel-Lucent will provide its world class network integration, testing and project management services to support this project and network optimization services, site surveys, training and maintenance services are also included in the contract.

Alcatel-Lucent is the world’s leading manufacturer of microwave transmission equipment, with more than 500,000 microwave radios delivered worldwide to more than 150 customers in 100 countries.