Alcatel brings broadband access, customer care services and highway security systems to the Pacific Islands

Paris, January 30, 2006 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced that it has been awarded a series of contracts worth 10.4 million Euros by two operators in the Pacific islands to provide broadband access, customer care services and highway security systems.

For the Office des Postes et Télécommunications (OPT) in French Polynesia, Alcatel will deploy a broadband access network using the Alcatel 7302 Integrated Services Access Manager (ISAM) to meet customer demand for high speed Internet access. OPT French Polynesia will thus become one of the more than 65 operators worldwide that have committed to implementing Alcatel’s ISAM family products since its launch in September 2004.

Alcatel’s broadband access network will enable OPT French Polynesia to offer advanced services such as IPTV and eventually triple play (voice, data, and video). Alcatel’s solution will also extend the operator’s broadband service reach to less dense and remote rural areas (e.g. Marquesas and Leeward Group islands).

For the Office des Postes et Telecommunications (OPT) in New Caledonia, Alcatel will deploy advanced billing systems. Valued at 5.7 million Euros, the advanced billing systems will improve OPT New Caledonia’s billing for prepaid and post-paid customers.

Alcatel will deploy its Prepaid Suites solution so that OPT New Caledonia can support and launch advanced and flexible tariff plans for voice, data, and content prepaid on its GPRS mobile network. Alcatel Prepaid Suites runs on Alcatel’s Intelligent Network, a comprehensive platform which provides real time advanced, convergent and cost-effective payment services to operators’ fixed, mobile, prepaid and postpaid subscriber bases.

To enable OPT New Caledonia to charge its post-paid customers for new services such as Multimedia Messaging (MMS), Alcatel will migrate the operator’s current customer care and billing system to an advanced post-paid billing system that more accurately will distinguish different types of service (voice, data, multimedia) and different levels of service. This will enhance OPT New Caledonia’s ability to provide more user-centric services.

Both prepaid and post-paid new billing solutions are expected to be operational by the end of July 200 6 and will allow OPT New Caledonia to enhance their ability to provide more user-centric services which are differentiated according to customer requirements and usage.

Alcatel will also provide OPT New Caledonia and highway operator Savexpress with the island’s first telecommunications-based highway security network. Under this 3.7 million Euro contract, Alcatel will deploy an integrated network including fibre optics, call boxes, video cameras and variable message panels designed to enable multimedia data communications services for video surveillance, traffic information and urgency communication. Alcatel will also deliver a range of professional services such as site survey and network design, installation and commissioning and operation and maintenance.

“These contracts represent another major milestone for Alcatel’s business in the Pacific Islands and reaffirms our strong capabilities in delivering user-centric broadband services in both the carrier and vertical market segments”, said Rémi Galasso, Alcatel’s Country Senior Officer for the Pacific Islands. “Those new contracts demonstrate the long-term trust of OPTs in Alcatel and also represent the success of Alcatel’s strategy in the Pacific Islands”.

About OPT: Office des Postes et Télécommunications - French Polynesia
Office des Postes et Télécommunications historically deals with three main activities: post office, financial services and telecommunications. Since June 2000, OPT is interested in new technologies. It launched its first digital TV channels called TNS. OPT has a turnover of 117 millions euros. Telecommunication activity represents 85% - Mobile and fixed activity.
For more information, visit OPT on the Internet: http://www.opt.pf

About OPT: Office des Postes et Télécommunications - New Caledonia
The Office des Postes et Télécommunications in New Caledonia is a combination of various sphere of activities such as telecommunications (fixed and mobile network), Post office and Financial services (About 785 employees). Launched in 1995, the GSM 900 network is called “Mobilis”. Today, more than 100 000 subscribers communicate through “Mobilis”. For more information: http://www.opt.nc

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.

Contact Information

Stéphane Lapeyrade

Alcatel

Contact via E-mail