Exponential-e Picks Alcatel for VPLS

PARIS -- Alcatel (Paris: CGEP. PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced it hasbeen awarded a multi-million Euro contract by Exponential-e, an innovative, carriergradeEthernet service provider. Alcatel will deploy a nationwide Virtual Private LANService (VPLS) connecting 50 sites across the UK. The Alcatel IP solution will play a majorrole in establishing Exponential-e’s Ethernet services as best-in-class with the introductionof differing quality levels to match business-critical service requirements. AdvancedOperations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) tools will deliver superior day-to-dayoperational and performance reporting benefits.

Exponential-e already supplies large corporate and blue chip companies with MPLSbasedEthernet connectivity throughout London. The addition of the Alcatel solution,which includes the Alcatel 7450 Ethernet Service Switch (ESS) and 5620 Service AwareManager (SAM), provides significant advantages. The Alcatel solution will VPLS-enableExponential-e’s nationwide Ethernet service – making it look like a large multi-sited LAN toend users, which is easier to integrate with existing network operations – and upgradecapacity to 10 Gb/s. As a result, Exponential–e customers will benefit from cost-effective,high-speed, multiservice solutions backed by tailored service level agreements (SLAs).

“Exponential-e expects to grow based on the ability to provide new, differentiatedservices over Ethernet. In order to do that, we need to be able to guarantee theappropriate quality of service for each specific application -- such as video or voice --and at the same time increase the capacity and functionality of our core network tohandle those new services” said Adrian Hobbins, Chief Technology Officer fromExponential-e. “With its integrated solutions approach, including joint marketing andservice support, Alcatel is clearly the best candidate to help us expand our footprint andenhance our service mix so we can stay ahead of incumbents.”

“Providers such as Exponential-e are choosing the Alcatel solution because it allows themto enhance their current Ethernet offerings and set new benchmarks in an increasinglycompetitive market,” said Basil Alwan, president of Alcatel’s IP activities. “With theAlcatel solution, service providers can increase the reliability and scalability of theirEthernet network and improve operational efficiency and provisioning as they introduceand operate next generation Ethernet, IP and MPLS-based services.”

Alcatel