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Alcatel to deliver WiMAX network to Netia for broadband wireless access in Poland


WEBWIRE

Paris, January 4, 2006 - Alcatel (Paris : CGEP.PA and NYSE : ALA) and Netia SA (WSE: NET), today announced that they have signed a cooperation agreement for the construction of a broadband wireless access network in Lublin, one of the largest cities in South-East Poland, based on the WiMAX technology. Netia is Poland’s largest alternative provider of fixed-line telecommunications services. This announcement reinforces Netia’s plans to provide telecommunication services based on the WiMAX technology in Poland.

Under the agreement Alcatel will supply, install and integrate an end-to-end WiMAX solution enabling Netia to carry out testing WiMAX in the Lublin area by providing a representative panel of users with broadband wireless access to the Internet and data transmissions with a guaranteed level of quality.

WiMAX is a new set of standards aimed at providing broadband connectivity through wireless networks for fixed and nomadic use in both urban and rural areas. Thus, it can offer broadband access where DSL is unavailable for technical or economic reasons or a last-mile alternative to unbundling for operators who are offering a combination of voice and broadband access offers.

“Netia plans to use the 3.6-3.8 GHz frequencies to expand country-wide quickly and cost effectively, including the new areas beyond its existing fixed line network. We are glad to cooperate with such an experienced partner as Alcatel in broadband and WiMAX technology integration on carring out the first test in Lublin.,” stated Piotr Czapski, Strategy and Business Development Director from Netia.

“Poland is one of the fastest growing broadband markets in Eastern Europe, with clearly defined needs for cost effective and widely available broadband solutions to support the country’s entry in the EU,” added Marc Rouanne, Chief operating officer of Alcatel’s mobile communications activities. “Alcatel’s WiMAX solution embodies our strategy, which is to enable dynamic operators such as Netia to build user-centric broadband solutions, and to constantly strive towards bringing more services and more quality of service with an optimized price to their clients.”

About Netia SA
Netia is the leading alternative fixed-line telecommunications operator in Poland. It operates on the basis of its own, state-of-the-art fiber-optic backbone network that connects the largest Polish cities as well as its local access networks. Netia provides a broad range of telecommunications services, including voice, data and network wholesale services. To further strengthen its customer offering by including a convergent product, Netia intends to offer mobile services based on the UMTS frequencies reservations awarded Netia Mobile in the tender organized by the Polish Regulator. Netia Globe and Netia Šwiat, Netia’s subsidiaries, were announced the winners of the tender for frequency reservations in the 3.6 - 3.8 GHz band. Netia plans to use the above mentioned frequencies to provide telecommunication services based on the WiMAX technology. International and Polish finance funds are the biggest Netia’s shareholders. Netia’s shares are listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks; applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 12.3 billion and 56,000 employees in 2004, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.



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