Alcatel Launches Big DSLAM

PARIS -- Alcatel, (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) the world leader in broadband solutions, today announced a significant addition to its market leading access portfolio: the 7301 Advanced Services Access Manager (ASAM). This next generation broadband access platform is designed specifically to accommodate exploding subscriber demand for bandwidth-heavy applications, such as business access and residential video services. Alcatel has shipped more than 25 million digital subscriber lines, a substantiation of DSL as the favored mode of access and of Alcatel's broadband leadership. With the launch of this latest version of Alcatel's industry-leading ASAM, Alcatel customers will benefit from its unrivalled capacity, cost efficiency and service scope. Combining unmatched service capabilities with one of the biggest bandwidth engines on the market, the Alcatel 7301 will contribute to making mass market broadband access a reality. "This platform is a clear indication that Alcatel is moving away from being a provider of 'dumb' ADSL ports and is demonstrating a commitment to facilitating higher value services both to business and consumers," said Matt Davis, Director Broadband Access at Yankee Group. The versatile 7301 ASAM has multiple benefits for service providers. A single line delivers audio, video, and data to up to 10,000 simultaneous users, enabling service providers to generate new revenues from advanced broadband entertainment services such as on-line gaming, music, video, and pay TV. Improved capacity, nation-wide coverage and guaranteed service level agreements mean carriers can confidently tap the lucrative small and medium enterprise market by offering low-cost virtual private network (VPN) services over DSL. As DSL access moves closer to even the most remote customers, the 7301 offers cost-effective aggregation of remote nodes and a Gigabit-Ethernet interface provides a smooth evolution towards efficient aggregation of Ethernet Metro Area Network (EMAN) services. "Alcatel continues to invest in developing broadband access solutions that meet the significant challenge our customers face as broadband users and bandwidth-intensive services grow significantly," says Michel Rahier, president of Alcatel's fixed networking activities. "The Alcatel 7301 ASAM multimedia capabilities, high capacity engine, and cost-effective architecture are aimed at carriers who want to protect and grow their subscriber base as even higher-bandwidth services emerge." Alcatel offers seamless migration to this latest version of the ASAM for existing Alcatel 7300 ASAM customers who require a higher capacity platform to support advanced broadband services. Finally, by offering a comprehensive suite of user friendly and proven element, network and service management products, carriers can simultaneously manage up to two million users or 4000 nodes. Alcatel continues to lead the worldwide market for digital subscriber line equipment with a 37.7 percent cumulative market share by the end of Q1 2003, according to data from industry analyst Dell'Oro Group. Alcatel's world leading access technology is prominent in the networks of over 70 of the world's largest carriers. For detailed information regarding the Alcatel 7301 ASAM, visit our website: www.alcatel.com/7301 Alcatel SA