PARIS -- Alcatel (CGEP.PA and NYSE:ALA) today announced that Belgium's Interdisciplinary Institute for BroadBand Technology (IBBT) has joined its Research Partnership Program. The Alcatel Research Partnership Program, launched at the beginning of 2002, fosters Alcatel's technology innovation through strong relationships with best-in-class universities and research institutes.

The main benefits to research partners are:

As a member, IBBT joins other prestigious international research organizations that collaborate with Alcatel to develop leading-edge communication solutions. Alcatel and IBBT will collaborate closely in the field of new information and communication technologies. A closer cooperation between Alcatel and IBBT will also contribute to the stronger foundation of telecom expertise in Flanders (Belgium).

“IBBT is the new Flanders (Belgium) broadband research cluster providing the broadband industry and Alcatel in particular with additional broadband technologies and software, ”said Thierry Van Landegem, Director Research & Innovation at Alcatel in Belgium. “I am pleased that this partnership will help us further intensify our long-term cooperation projects and will allow us to use the recognized experience and knowledge of IBBT. We feel that it is important to continue regular cooperation with their highly specialized and skilled researchers.”

“The participating research groups in IBBT have been cooperating with the local Alcatel divisions for over 10 years,” explains Wim De Waele, General Manager at IBBT, “The fact IBBT exists, now enables us to develop a long-term strategic relationship with Alcatel globally and helps the participating research teams to remain at the top of their field.”

Interdisciplinary institute for BroadBand Technology

Alcatel