Alfa, Alcatel-Lucent and RIM launch the BlackBerry solution in Lebanon

Beirut – Lebanon, Paris – France and Waterloo ON.- Canada - Alfa, the Lebanese mobile operator managed since February 1, 2009 by Orascom Telecom, Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution for Alfa customers.

Alfa will offer customers various BlackBerry® smartphones: the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9000 smartphone and the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphone; along with unlimited1 MB for BlackBerry® Service local usage.

Moreover, Alfa will be offering one month’s free subscription with BlackBerry Internet Service to the first buyers of any BlackBerry® smartphone fromall Alfa premises.Alfa customers will now be able to enjoy the productivity benefits of using BlackBerry® smartphones to stay connected to people and information on the go. Users will benefit from enhanced communications, with easy, wireless access to email, phone, calendar, web, multimedia and a range of other business and leisure applications.

“Alfa has already seen great interest in the BlackBerry solution from a range of companies and professionals, and we are pleased to be working with RIM and Alcatel-Lucent to deliver the service to our subscribers. Our joint efforts have focused on the proper integration of the BlackBerry Solution with our mobile network in order to provide customers with an exceptional experience,” said Mr. Samer Salameh, CEO of Alfa.

Based on its distribution agreement with RIM, Alcatel-Lucent leveraged its strong local presence in the region to provide Alfa with end-to-end implementation, launch, delivery and support services for the BlackBerry solution in the Lebanese market. With Alcatel-Lucent’s assistance in managing delivery of the solution, technology integration and deployment, Alfa is able to focus on the delivery of customer facing services in order to quickly meet market demand.

Vincenzo Nesci, Head of MEA business for Alcatel-Lucent said: “This project strengthens Alcatel-Lucent’s position as a global provider of communications. With this offering, Alfa will expand its business opportunities and enable its customers to benefit from the high flexibility offered by the BlackBerry solution, allowing them to stay connected anytime, anywhere.”

Mark Guibert, Vice President Corporate Marketing, RIM also said: “We are pleased to work with Alcatel-Lucent and Alfa to introduce the BlackBerry solution to Alfa’s customers in Lebanon. BlackBerry smartphones are a popular choice with both professionals and consumers around the world who want to stay connected to people and information while on the move.” At launch, Alfa will offer its customers the BlackBerry® Bold™ smartphone and the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphone.

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone is a communications and multimedia powerhouse. It is the first BlackBerry smartphone to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed networks around the world and comes with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi® (802.11 a/b/g). It features a lustrous black exterior, satin chrome finished frame and stylish leatherette back plate as well as a stunning display, sophisticated user interface and newly designed full-QWERTY keyboard.

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone packs a wide range of advanced communications and multimedia capabilities into a sleek and light full-QWERTY design. In addition to being an exceptional phone that offers access to email, messaging, organizer, web browser and multimedia applications, the new BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone features built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), GPS for location-based applications, Bluetooth® 2.0, a next generation processor (512MHz) and a dazzling hi-resolution display.

1 Local usage with a fair usage policy of 500MB

About Orascom Telecom
Orascom Telecom is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in high growth markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, having a total population under license of approximately 498 million with an average mobile telephony penetration of approximately 48% as of March 31st, 2008. Orascom Telecom operates GSM networks in Algeria (“OTA”), Pakistan (“Mobilink”), Egypt (“Mobinil”), Tunisia (“Tunisiana”), Bangladesh (“banglalink”), and North Korea (“Koryolink”). OTH has an indirect equity ownership in Globalive Wireless which has been granted a spectrum license in Canada. OTH was also awarded the management contract of one of the two Lebanese mobile telecommunications operators (“external linkAlfa”) from the government of the Republic of Lebanon. Through its subsidiary Telecel Globe, OTH also operates in Burundi, the Central African Republic, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Orascom Telecom had over 80 million subscribers as of March 31st, 2008.

Orascom Telecom is traded on the Cairo & Alexandria Stock Exchange under the symbol (ORTE.CA, ORAT EY), and on the London Stock Exchange its GDR is traded under the symbol (ORTEq.L, OTLD LI).

For more information, visit: external linkwww.orascomtelecom.com

About Alfa
external linkAlfa is the brand name of one of the two Lebanese mobile networks owned by the Republic of Lebanon. external linkAlfa is managed by Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) since February 1, 2009. external linkAlfa capitalizes on its expertise in the telecom field in order to deliver a global and professional solution for the GSM sector in Lebanon. Its main target is to reach one million subscribers by end of 2009.

For more information, visit: external linkwww.alfa.com.lb

About Research In Motion (RIM)
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM’s portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit external linkwww.rim.com or external linkwww.BlackBerry.com.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used herein, words such as “intend” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by and information available to Research In Motion Limited. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, possible product defects and product liability, risks related to international sales and potential foreign currency exchange fluctuations, the initiation or outcome of litigation, acts or potential acts of terrorism, international conflicts, significant fluctuations of quarterly operating results, changes in Canadian and foreign laws and regulations, continued acceptance of RIM’s products, increased levels of competition, technological changes and the successful development of new products, dependence on third-party networks to provide services, dependence on intellectual property rights, and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in RIM’s periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory authorities. RIM has no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

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