PARIS -- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that it has been awarded a contract by Vinaphone, the second largest mobile operator in Vietnam, to upgrade its GSM network in 16 northern provinces with advanced EDGE broadband data functionality. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent’s cost-efficient solution provides Vinaphone with the flexibility to introduce new technologies in the future, including EDGE+, W-CDMA, HSPA, HSPA+, and LTE with a smooth evolution path to meet their market needs.

The contract was signed through Alcatel-Lucent’s flagship company in China, Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell. The deployment is currently underway and the expanded network will begin providing commercial services in April 2009.

Upon commercial launch, this network upgrade and modernization project will boost the capacity and coverage of Vinaphone’s network and enable the operator to offer its customers a wide range of advanced services in the future. Alcatel-Lucent’s advanced mobile networking technology will lay a solid foundation for Vinaphone’s upcoming 3G network construction.

Under the terms of the contract, Alcatel-Lucent will design, deploy and maintain its industry-leading multi-standard GSM/EDGE radio access solution including its latest Base Station Controller platform and TWIN transceivers.

“With our strong local presence, project management skills and our state-of-the-art wireless technology, we are confident that we will be able to ensure that Vinaphone will be able to reach its goal of providing its customers some of the most advanced mobile services available in Vietnam,” saidOlivia Qiu, President of Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell.

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)