Alcatel carries out Orange’s first A-GPS trial in Europe

Paris, November 10, 2005 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced that it has been chosen by Orange, one of the most important worldwide mobile operators, as the main supplier for an A-GPS (Assisted Global Positioning System) solution in the framework of the first trial of this technology handled by the operator in France and throughout its European network. Over the course of a few months, this experiment allows trial users chosen by Orange and equipped with A-GPS handsets, to try out services which are specifically adapted to this technology, such as satellite navigation for cars and pedestrians.

A-GPS allows the user to pick up the weakest satellite signals, and therefore makes finding difficult locations such as urban canyons (i.e. tunnels, business centers, and commercial centers which often consist of high rise buildings, narrow streets and light indoor environments) much easier. The immediate advantages of the Alcatel supplied A-GPS solution are the speed at which it finds a GPS signal (less than 2 seconds), and the accuracy and sensitivity of the solution, thanks notably to the efficiency of the assistance data provided by the EGNOS European satellite system.

Within the framework of this trial, Alcatel integrates for Orange an end-to-end Assisted-GPS solution including the Alcatel 8608 Enhanced Assisted-GPS server, which transmits data directly to the mobile terminal so that it can receive the GPS signals more quickly and effectively than a standard GPS, and Hewlett-Packard’s iPAQ hw6515 Mobile Messenger, which integrates wireless voice, high-speed EDGE data networking and versatile GPS navigation technologies in one device to meet global business and personal communication needs.

Both pieces of equipment use the Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) protocol which allows the A-GPS technology to be accessible from any mobile network. The SUPL platform has the advantage of being more cost-effective than the other solutions that are based upon control plane infrastructure, which demand costly upgrades to the mobile network infrastructure.

The solution also includes an A-GPS connection which directly communicates with the mobile handset via an IP link, as well as Motorola’s A1000 mobile phone combining 3G and PDA functionalities.

“We are proud to be accompanying Orange in their experimentation of our Assisted-GPS solution in Europe,” declared Marc Rouanne, Chief operating officer of Alcatel’s mobile communications activities. “Our solution opens the door to an infinite range of new Location Based Services which will allow operators to help their clients in their daily lives, by offering them unrivalled accuracy and Quality of Service.”

About the Alcatel 8608 Enhanced A-GPS Server
The Alcatel 8608 Enhanced A-GPS uses additional GPS precision-augmentation data to provide the best assistance data to the handsets. It ensures unrivalled accuracy, typically 3/5 meters outdoors and 10 meters indoors. It is scalable and can process location requests from ten subscribers to ten+ million subscribers. It is also the right solution for field trials or pre-operational services thanks to lower entry point pricing and lower expansion pricing.

About EGNOS and Galileo
Launched in 1998 by the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission and the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol), the EGNOS system (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) is the first stage of European contribution towards GNSS, the global satellite navigation system and the precursor of the Galileo system. The EGNOS system completes the American GPS and the Russian GLONASS systems through the significant improvement of precise positioning and the guarantee of the continuity of the service. Project manager of the EGNOS system, Alcatel is also a major partner in the Galileo programme.

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 12.3 billion and 56,000 employees in 2004, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.

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Aurélie Boutin-Guezennec

Paris Hq Corporate Press Department

Alcatel

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