Lucent Optimizes O2

LONDON -- Lucent Technologies (NYSE:LU) today announced that it has been selected by O2 to provide an independent, pan-European assessment of its mobile infrastructure. Lucent has been awarded a three-year framework agreement to assess and analyse the performance of its GSM and GPRS networks in Germany, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the UK. This project will help O2 to further optimise the services it provides to its customers, such as voice, e-mail, and messaging (SMS & MMS). The project will be conducted by Lucent's services organisation, Lucent Worldwide Services.

Lucent's services organisation, Lucent Worldwide Services, supported by the technical expertise within Bell Labs, will collect network and end user service performance data, then analyse and interpret the data to provide O2 with a clear picture of its network and application performance. Lucent Worldwide Services will measure the performance of O2 's GSM and GPRS infrastructure across cities, towns, roads and rail networks, throughout Europe. The performance of O2's in-building network will also be assessed in a significant number of major buildings.

"It is important to O2 that we ensure our network coverage performs to its optimal capacity. Rigorous testing and analysis methods are a means of continuing our high performance levels," said Dave Williams, Chief Technology Officer of O2. "We selected Lucent for its technical excellence and an in-depth understanding of network operations, which will help us to provide better services and satisfaction to our customers."

"We are delighted to be working with O2 to help improve its mobile network performance across its European operations," said Paul Higgs, Regional Vice President of Lucent Worldwide Services in Europe. "This project clearly demonstrates the value Lucent provides to our customers, with services that enhance end users' experience of telecoms networks. Our full range of network-centric services gives service providers faster deployment, improved operation and better support for their networks."

The project will measure performance from the end-user perspective and includes analysing the delivery of voice, e-mail and messaging, both text and multi-media. This will help O2 to assess its comparative network performance and to ensure high quality customer service. The analysis will also identify possible areas for network improvements ensuring that O2 can benefit from the optimal capacity of its networks and to better focus future expenditure to increase revenues.

The comparative benchmarking service is one of a range of professional services offered by Lucent to help mobile service providers optimise its network performance and operating expenditure, and achieve greater revenues by delivering better services. These services are an important part of Lucent's full portfolio of network services, delivered by a global service organization of more than 12,000 network experts.

Lucent Technologies Inc.

O2 Ltd.