Alcatel-Lucent helps service providers expand their broadband offerings for business customers over existing copper access networks

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced a new product that helps service providers make better use of their installed copper access networks by enabling them to offer new high-speed broadband services to business customers. To achieve this, Alcatel-Lucent has expanded its Ethernet Business Access portfolio with a new “Ethernet in the First Mile” (EFM) platform that greatly increases the capabilities of existing copper networks.

Around the world, business customers of all sizes are demanding increased network coverage and access to higher-speed services, and service providers are looking for ways to meet this demand without significantly increasing costs. While fiber access to every office would be an ideal solution, this is not yet a reality for many business customers.

To help service providers meet their customers’ requirements, Alcatel-Lucent’s Ethernet Business Access portfolio has been expanded with the 1532 Copper Line Access Switch (CLAS), which greatly increases data throughput on copper networks - offering symmetrical bandwidths and services at rates up to 480 megabits per second (Mb/s) over bonded copper pairs.

The Copper Line Access Switch is a hybrid Packet/TDM platform that allows service providers to deploy high-speed broadband services – such as virtual leased lines (VLL), virtual private LANs (VPLS) as well as IP-virtual private networks (IP-VPNs) – to an increased number of business customers. These capabilities will enable service providers to pursue a market that will grow to around USD 47 billion in 2011 – according to an Infonetics study1.

“Alcatel-Lucent’s Ethernet Business Access portfolio - and the 1532 CLAS in particular – enables our customers to significantly extend the reach of their business access network,” said Dave Geary, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s Wireline Networks activities. “Although the availability of fiber has increased dramatically, the vast majority of business sites in the U.S. and Europe haven’t yet made that transition. This Copper Line Access Switch will enable service providers to address a promising new market.”

Alcatel-Lucent’s 1532 CLAS is part of the 15xx Business Access portfolio, one of the most successful product families ever offered for the professional market - already having been sold to more than 500 customers in more than 100 countries.

[1] Ethernet and IP MPLS VPN Services, Infonetics, June 2008

About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, providing solutions to 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 16.98 billion in 2008 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