New Products Meet Demand for High-Bandwidth Video Aggregation and Lower-Speed Multi-Service Applications PARIS, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alcatel (NYSE: ALA; Paris: CGEP.PA) today announced two new platforms designed to expand the addressable market of its industry-leading IP portfolio. Alcatel is introducing a twelve-slot, 400 Gbps version of its highly-successful Alcatel 7450 Ethernet Service Switch (ESS), and a four-slot, 9 Gbps version of the Alcatel 7710 Service Router (SR), which was launched in March 2006. The new twelve-slot Alcatel 7450 ESS is a purpose-built carrier class Ethernet/MPLS routing platform for high-bandwidth video aggregation in service provider networks. The platform provides the highest levels of availability and redundancy - which ensure non-stop routing and non-stop service delivery - and support for a broad set of services. The twelve-slot 7450 ESS shares the same operating system and interfaces as the existing Alcatel ESS family of products, which simplifies integration of the platform into an existing network and maximizes return on investment. "Alcatel continues to innovate and strengthen its portfolio with the addition of the twelve-slot Alcatel 7450 ESS," said Dan Burns, Telstra's Executive Managing Director of Network & Technology. "The Alcatel 7450 ESS brings to the table all of the carrier-class attributes, such as high availability and service-aware QoS, which we require for high bandwidth services that will run over our next generation IP-based network. The 7450 ESS is also seamlessly managed by the Alcatel 5620 SAM, reducing operational impact when we introduce it into the network." The four-slot version of the Alcatel 7710 SR delivers a highly modular, multi-service routing platform that allows high-end verticals and fixed and mobile operators to extend carrier-class attributes to the furthest edges of the IP/MPLS network, where a broad range of access interface types are required. The platform provides high levels of service assurance and service richness due to its resilience, support for a broad scope of Layer 2 and 3 services, and interface types that can range from DS1 to Gigabit Ethernet. The Alcatel 7710 SR uses the existing Service Router Operating System (SR-OS) which simplifies operational processes. With this addition, Alcatel's Service Router product line now extends from 9Gb/s to 400Gb/s in capacity, addressing a broad range of routing applications across access, multi-service edge and core networks. Both new platforms feature a comprehensive, service-oriented OA&M toolkit plus full element and network management by the Alcatel 5620 Service Aware Manager (SAM), which automates operational tasks and thus enhances the speed and efficiency with which new services can be introduced and managed. As well, both products provide comprehensive support for service-based accounting and billing which allows operators to customize invoices based on end-user requirements. "Alcatel's Ethernet aggregation and multiservice router solutions are expanding to meet customer requirements both in terms of increased capacity and application-specific form factors. These enhancements position Alcatel for high growth opportunities such as video aggregation, wireless aggregation, and multiservice edge routing," said Mark Seery, VP of IP Service Infrastructure at Ovum-RHK. "The twelve-slot Alcatel ESS sets a new benchmark in terms of combining port density, switching capacity, and throughput with carrier class QoS, high availability, Ethernet over MPLS, and service management. The four- slot Alcatel 7710 SR is well-suited to multi-service small Points of Presence, SMBs and high-growth economies who require a rich feature set but in a more compact box and will also meet the aggregation needs of mobile providers." "This expansion of our portfolio ensures that our customers have the widest selection of IP solutions," said Basil Alwan, president of Alcatel's IP activities. "These new platforms reflect Alcatel's ongoing commitment to meet the needs of our customers as they build the next generation of service delivery networks. Alcatel's IP portfolio has the right feature set, high availability and scalability, and has been designed specifically for the most demanding service environments." With more than 140 customers in 55 countries, Alcatel is demonstrating that its IP portfolio is ideally suited for the needs of operators who are transforming their networks for a new phase of higher-value, user-driven service delivery. According to Ovum-RHK, Alcatel was #2 in the global IP/MPLS Edge Router category in Q2 2006, with 17% market share. The twelve-slot Alcatel 7450 ESS and the four-slot Alcatel 7710 SR are available in October 2006. Visit http://www.alcatel.com/IPnews for additional information. 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. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com/ . Broadband World Forum Paris October 9-12, 2006 DATASOURCE: Alcatel CONTACT: press, Tracy Dupree, N.A., +1-818-878-4408, or , or Regine Coqueran, HQ, +33-0-1-40-76-49-24, or , or Mark Burnworth, HQ, +33-0-1-40-76-50-84, or , or Stephane Lapeyrade, HQ, +33-0-1-40-76-12-74, or , or investor relations, Pascal Bantegnie, +33-0-1-40-76-52-20, or , or Nicolas Leyssieux, +33-0-1-40-76-37-32, or , or Maria Alcon, +33-0-1-40-76-15-17, or , or Charlotte Laurent- Ottomane, +1-703-668-7016, or , all of Alcatel Web site: http://www.alcatel.com/ http://www.alcatel.com/IPnews

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