Codetel teams with Alcatel-Lucent to launch nationwide IPTV service in the Dominican Republic

High-quality TV programming and video on demand to be combined with voice and broadband Internet in one of the Caribbean’s first “triple play” service offerings

Paris – Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) announced that Compania Dominicana de Telefonos (Codetel), the leading telecommunications operator in the Dominican Republic, today launched a nationwide IPTV offering, providing subscribers across the country with high-quality TV programming, video on demand and other multimedia content services. Enhanced features include picture in picture, karaoke entertainment and digital video recording.

The new IPTV service – supported by Alcatel-Lucent’s end-to-end IPTV solution, including the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV and multimedia software platform - offers Codetel’s customers an enhanced video experience. It positions Codetel as the first operator to provide advanced new features in the Dominican market, such as video on demand and pause-live TV. The service complements Codetel’s existing voice and broadband Internet access service, enabling the operator to offer one of the first complete “triple play” packages in the Caribbean.

“This launch represents a major expansion of our service offerings, which now include high-quality video entertainment and content services,” said Oscar Peña, President of Codetel. “For this project, Alcatel-Lucent proved they had the end-to-end expertise and integration experience to help us transform our network and business to enable us to provide more and better services to our customers.”

Alcatel-Lucent’s solution also is helping Codetel transform its business by simplifying network operations, improving service quality and expanding its revenue base.

“This launch sets the stage for the convergence of the telecommunications and entertainment industries in the Dominican Republic and gives Codetel an important new tool to expand its relationship with its subscribers by supporting a range of compelling new services,” said Victor Agnellini, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities in the Caribbean and Latin America region. “Codetel can ensure that its customers have access to a top-quality video experience through Alcatel-Lucent’s unique Video Operation Center, which provides video session monitoring and management to safeguard the quality and reliability of the service.”

Alcatel-Lucent’s end-to end integrated IPTV solution is based on its market-leading, triple-play service delivery architecture (TPSDA) and on Microsoft Mediaroom. To complete the solution, Alcatel-Lucent is providing professional services such as network integration, project management, network design and optimization and maintenance.

Alcatel-Lucent is a recognized leader in IPTV, occupying the No. 1 position in IPTV access and middleware solutions worldwide – according to the most recent MRG IPTV Market Leaders Report (August 2008). Alcatel-Lucent provides middleware solutions that support more than 2 million IPTV subscribers, representing more than 13 percent of all IPTV subscribers worldwide. The company is involved in more than 55 triple play service delivery architecture (TPSDA) deployments and more than 60 IPTV transformation and integration projects.

About CODETEL
Operating since 1930 Compañia Dominicana de Teléfonos (CODETEL) has been the leading service provider of wireline, wireless and long distance solutions with main office in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. CODETEL is the only local provider that provides its customers customized solutions to satisfy their individual needs.

CODETEL is one of the most admired companies in the country and is a subsidiary of America Movil, the largest wireless provider in Latin America.

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