Alcatel-Lucent endorses MPLS-transport standardization efforts and reaffirms leadership role in carrier network transformation

Paris.- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced its commitment and support for Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)-Transport Profile (MPLS-TP), building on the standardization efforts by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). As a market leader in optical transport, carrier Ethernet and MPLS, Alcatel-Lucent is committed to enabling seamless transformation of transport networks to converged MPLS-based packet transport.

MPLS is a proven, highly flexible and cost-effective multi-service technology. Empowering MPLS with transport operational practices - including operation, administration and maintenance (OAM) and survivability - is needed to ensure scalable operations, high-availability, performance monitoring and multi-domain capabilities as key requirements for large scale transport networks.

Alcatel-Lucent has been a pioneer in applying MPLS techniques to transport networks through its 1850 Transport Service Switch (TSS) portfolio -- where the current version of MPLS-Transport, the ITU-T T-MPLS, is already implemented and under test with several service providers -- and its 7450 Ethernet Service Switch (ESS) portfolio, which is deployed worldwide in carrier networks using MPLS pseudowires. This new effort brings these two related approaches together and delivers one unified set of MPLS-based packet transport standards.

With ongoing standardization efforts for MPLS-Transport in the IETF, and a goal of common standards being reached during 2009, Alcatel-Lucent is taking a leadership role in close cooperation with other vendors and a broad base of service providers to ensure a rapid convergence of industry standards.

“Alcatel-Lucent believes MPLS is the optimal technology to enable scalable Ethernet transport in carrier networks and has taken a leadership role in implementing MPLS-based packet transport” said Michel Rahier, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s carrier activities. “We are fully committed to MPLS and MPLS-TP and will continue to develop a full range of products based on common specifications, working closely with service providers and other vendors to ensure interoperability.”

As the worldwide leader in optical networking since 2001, Alcatel-Lucent is spearheading network transformation to all-packet transport. Its optical networking solutions have been selected by more than 1,000 service providers in more than 150 countries. During 2007, Alcatel-Lucent further reinforced its #1 position in optical networking garnering 24% of the market according to Ovum RHK. For more information, please visit: Optics

Alcatel-Lucent IP/MPLS solutions have been selected by more than 200 service providers in more than 90 countries. During the first quarter of 2008, Alcatel-Lucent reinforced its #2 position in IP/MPLS edge garnering 18% of the market according to Ovum-RHK. For more information, please visit: www.alcatel-lucent.com/ipnews