Alcatel expands microwave portfolio with launch of the Alcatel 9500 MXC

New product to be unveiled at CTIA

Paris, April 3, 2006 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced a new addition to its world-class microwave product portfolio with the market introduction of the Alcatel 9500 Microwave Cross Connect (MXC). With more than 50 years experience in microwave transmission, Alcatel strengthens it leading portfolio by adding the Alcatel 9500 MXC to its wireless transmission solutions.

A cost effective solution requiring no external peripherals, the Alcatel 9500 MXC enables operators to evolve their network in line with their business needs. Offering a flexible architecture ready to transport IP and TDM services, the Alcatel 9500 MXC offers an easy migration from legacy networks enabling operators to maximize their existing infrastructure investments and ultimately lower capital and operational expenditures.

The Alcatel 9500 MXC is ideally suited for mobile applications, featuring a single indoor/outdoor platform that links cell sites to the core network for mobile 2G/3G and WiMAX. In addition, the platform offers private operators the dual benefits of higher bandwidth at lower cost and delivers the higher quality of service required by metropolitan network operators.

“With 3G and WiMAX deployments poised to deliver advanced broadband services and expanded high speed reach, cellular networks need to accommodate growing levels of traffic. Efficient multiplexing, IP routing and backhaul become paramount for operational efficiency and competitiveness,” said Emmy Johnson, founder and principal analyst at Sky Light Research. “By delivering these key functions from a single, expandable Alcatel 9500 MXC, Alcatel addresses the critical business needs of carriers by lowering capital and operational costs and reducing network complexity and management.”

“This new Microwave Cross Connect is a low, medium and high capacity family of radio that complements our current Microwave product portfolio, to provide Alcatel with the broadest and most extensive Wireless offering on the market today.,” said Luis Antonio Martinez Amago, President of Alcatel’s wireless transmission activities. “Its state-of-the-art concept and break-through features result in un-surpassed flexibility and tremendous cost savings to Wireless Access and Wireless Backhaul Operators worldwide. Alcatel has the complete Point-to-Point (PtP) and Point to MultiPoint (PMP) microwave portfolio to address the wireless needs of mobile, fixed and enterprise network operators worldwide.”

“Our microwave radios have the widest range of traffic interfaces available on the North American market today. The Alcatel 9500 MXC, with its integrated multiplexing, cross-connect and circuit routing capabilities, gives wireless, wireline and private network operators more choices and greater flexibility.” said Tom Eggemeier, Vice President and General Manager of Alcatel’s wireless transmission activities in North America. “The Alcatel 9500 MXC also provides the ideal solution for networks carrying TDM traffic today that are migrating toward Ethernet. The Alcatel 9500 MXC lets the user ”IP at their own speed“ by providing smooth traffic migration and capacity expansion today.”

With almost 400,000 point-to-point microwave radios installed in more than 150 countries, Alcatel is a technology leader in the wireless transmission market. Alcatel has the broadest wireless product portfolio in the ETSI market comprised of Fixed wireless Point-to-Point (PtP) and Point to MultiPoint (PMP) equipment, based on PDH, SDH, SONET and Wireless IP, including the Alcatel 9400 AWY/9600 LSY/9600 USY and now, the Alcatel 9500 MXC.

In North America, the Alcatel 9500 MXC complements ongoing development of Alcatel’s existing portfolio of wireless transmission solutions including the Alcatel 9400 AWY and the industry standard Alcatel MDR-8000.

The Alcatel 9500 MXC will be shown for the first time on the Alcatel booth (#2928) at CTIA, April 5-7 in Las Vegas.

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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Mark Burnworth

Alcatel

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