Alcatel-Lucent to provide multivendor network maintenance services to EMBARQ

Paris — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) announced today that Embarq Corporation (NYSE: EQ) has selected Alcatel-Lucent as the single point of contact for network maintenance, including Remote Technical Support (RTS) for most of EMBARQ’s equipment across the company’s 18-state serving area. Total implementation of the service should be completed in the first quarter of this year.

Alcatel-Lucent’s Multivendor Maintenance solution provides streamlined operations associated with managing different network platforms and service levels, enabling EMBARQ to use its own resources more efficiently and reduce operating expenses.

“As we migrate toward newer technologies such as all-IP networks and voice-data integrated infrastructures, our support services also must evolve,” said Jim Hansen, senior vice president of Network Services for EMBARQ. “Our goal is to be innovative in everything we do, and Alcatel-Lucent helps us achieve this by providing a comprehensive maintenance services portfolio, global delivery capability, and strong multivendor technical skills we need to help us deliver enhanced services more reliably to our customers.”

"EMBARQ is looking to reduce costs by employing new business models for maintaining a network which offers a comprehensive range of communications services across its territory,” said Charles Marsh, vice president of sales for Alcatel-Lucent’s North America major accounts. “As a trusted partner, Alcatel-Lucent is helping EMBARQ address maintenance and operational challenges by providing extensive technical know-how from world-class experts, a global logistics and repair network that supports products from 350 vendors, and a flexible suite of business models.”



About EMBARQ
Embarq Corporation (NYSE: EQ), headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, offers a complete suite ofcommunications services. EMBARQ has operations in 18 states and is in the Fortune 500® list of America’s largest corporations. For consumers, EMBARQ offers an innovative portfolio of services that includes reliable local and long distance home phone service, high-speed Internet, wireless, and satellite TV from DISH Network® -- all on one monthly bill. For businesses, EMBARQ has a comprehensive range of flexible and integrated services designed to help businesses of all sizes be more productive and communicate with their customers. This service portfolio includes local voice and data services, long distance, Business Class High Speed Internet, wireless, satellite TV from DIRECTV®, enhanced data network services, voice and data communication equipment and managed network services.For more information, visit external linkwww.embarq.com.

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, providing solutions that deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 17.8 billion in 2007 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com