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Alcatel-Lucent to carry out a WiMAX pilot in the North Sea


WEBWIRE

Paris, January 8, 2007 — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that it has been selected by OLF, the Norwegian Oil Industry Association, to carry out a Universal WiMAX test in the North Sea. The primary objective is to confirm that WiMAX technology will improve offshore data communication. The deployment is planned for the first quarter of 2007 and should last 9 months.
OLF is looking to enhance the communication between platforms and moving vessels whatever the weather conditions. It has selected WiMAX notably for its long range and high capacity.
The pilot is based on Universal WiMAX IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard equipment. Alcatel-Lucent will provide OLF with its Alcatel-Lucent 9100 WiMAX end-to-end radio solution, including base stations, Wireless Access Controller and Operation and Maintenance Center. Alcatel-Lucent’s high-power base stations, equipped with Advanced Antenna System (AAS) technology for beamforming technology will be installed on one of the platforms at BP Norway’s Valhall field, while two ships will be equipped with terminal equipment.
“We expect considerable improvements in data communication between platforms and ships, compared to traditional technologies”, says Oyvind Roth, Senior Advicer to OLF. “WiMAX will allow high speed and high quality data transfers. It will enable the usage of VoIP along the Norwegian coast and in the off-shore sector. We trust Alcatel-Lucent, the leader in this technology, to make this pilot successful”.
“This WiMAX pilot in the North Sea is the very first in the oil & gas industry. We are proud to support OLF in this exciting project as we strongly believe in the huge potential of WiMAX,” says Lars Boilesen, Head of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities in the Nordic and Baltic regions.
Alcatel-Lucent’s Universal WiMAX solution integrates the most advanced radio technology available on the market today. The Alcatel-Lucent 9116 WiMAX base station is compact and easy-to-install, enabling easy site acquisition, fast rollout and flexible configuration. Its embedded AAS technology enables higher throughputs, longer reach and sharply lowered capital expenditures.
Alcatel-Lucent has begun shipping Universal WiMAX IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard equipment and is supporting a number of WiMAX IEEE 802.16e-2005 trials worldwide.

About WiMAX
WiMAX is a broadband wireless access technology that enables connectivity through wireless networks for fixed, nomadic or mobile use in urban, suburban and rural areas. The technology offers a cost-effective broadband access alternative where DSL is unavailable for technical or economical reasons, or a last-mile alternative to unbundling for operators who are offering a combination of voice and broadband access offers to the next generation of wireless devices. The 802.16e-2005 WiMAX standard is a more advanced successor to 802d.16-2004 (called “Static WiMAX,” or Revision d), and offers superior performance and flexibility in pure fixed deployment scenarios.

About OLF
OLF The Norwegian Oil Industry Association is a professional body and employer’s association for oil and supplier companies engaged in the field of exploration and production of oil and gas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. OLF is a member of the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO).OLF shall contribute to making the Norwegian Shelf an attractive investment and activity area for oil companies and supplier companies. For more information, visit OLF on the Internet: external linkhttp://www.olf.no/english/about/

About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With 79,000 employees and operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved proforma combined revenues of Euro 18.6 billion in 2005, and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. [All figures exclude impact of activities to be transferred to Thales]. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

Contact the Alcatel-Lucent Press Office: press@alcatel-lucent.com



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