PARIS -- Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA), worldleader in intelligent optical networking, today announced it has added newcapabilities to its leading-edge optical systems portfolio. A brand-newdigital matrix-chip will enhance the features of Alcatel's backbone andmetro optical systems - whether they are based on Time DivisionMultiplexing (TDM) or Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)technologies - as well as provide increased efficiency and flexibility.This matrix-chip further advances Alcatel systems' cross connectcapabilities by independently "crossing" and "connecting" different trafficflows from any of the systems' input ports to any of their output ports.Its adoption extends the existing limitation of bandwidth in the opticaldomain where cross connects with relatively low-capacity electricalmatrixes have been employed until now. Alcatel's new generation transportsystems will fill the gap between current standard solutions (based on155Mbit/s switching) and the all-optical high-capacity solutions oftomorrow."As increased data traffic in the network has created demand for DWDM andoptical cross connect equipment, demand for sub-systems has also grownsignificantly," stated Bernard Le Mouël, Chief Technology Officer ofAlcatel's Optics Group. "Alcatel's transmission systems continuously evolveto carry bit-information faster, while maximizing optical networks' costefficiency and the quality of the services offered."Alcatel SA