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Alcatel awarded submarine network extension contract by MCN in the Caribbean


WEBWIRE

Paris, February 9, 2006 — Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) announced today that it has signed a supply contract with Middle Caribbean Network (MCN), subsidiary of Group Loret, to extend the Global Caribbean Network submarine cable (GCN-1) from Guadeloupe to Martinique with a connection to Dominica. The project will provide the additional capacity needed in the region and will be very beneficial to the region’s economic development.

The MCN cable system will interconnect to the Global Caribbean Network, that is under deployment by Alcatel, connecting Basse-Terre and Point à Pitre in Guadeloupe to San Juan - Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Martin and St. Barthlemy. The new project will enable MCN to substantially increase local communications coverage. The extension of the GCN-1 cable route will be of approximately 245 km linking Guadeloupe to Martinique with a branching unit connecting Dominica. The new submarine cable network will be designed to carry 320 Gbit/s per fiber pair. The MCN cable system will allow residential and business users to enjoy superior services via high-speed network connectivity.

“Multi service broadband access and enhanced connectivity are crucial for promoting economic development in the region. Providing businesses with the ability to communicate is a primary objective. As their communications needs continue to increase, the GCN-1 and MCN networks will provide the most cost effective solutions to their bandwidth demands, locally, regionally and worldwide.” stated Ehsan Emami, President at MCN.

“The new award strengthens our successful cooperation with MCN to deliver communication infrastructures that allow end-users to continuously benefit from the most advanced services,” said Jean Godeluck, President of Alcatel’s submarine network activity.

Alcatel will supply its Optical Multi-Service Node (OMSN) solution managed by the Alcatel 1350 management suite. Furthermore, Alcatel will provide a comprehensive set of services including marine and terrestrial installation, commissioning and integration.

About MCN
MCN (Middle Caribbean Network) is a new cable operator in the Caribbean region. MCN is a subsidiary of Group Loret, one of the major actors in the French West Indies and Guiana economies with sales of EURO 500 million in 2005. On November 2004, Global Caribbean Network, subsidiary of Group Loret, was awarded by the Regional Council of Guadeloupe (FWI) a Public Services Delegation contract for building and operate a new submarine cable linking Guadeloupe, St.Martin and St.Barthlemy to Puerto Rico. The MCN network will be interconnected to the GCN network and will provide to local and international operators broadband services at very cost effective level.

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 13.1 billion and 58,000 employees in 2005, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.



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