Lucent Sells Voice Switch to SBC

MURRAY HILL, N.J. -- Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU - News) today announced that SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC - News) is deploying Lucent's new high-capacity switch to more cost effectively support voice and data calls - such as wireless, Internet-dialup and long distance - that enter and exit SBC's local network.While based on the same reliable and scalable architecture, the new 5E-XC(TM) high- capacity switch delivers three-times the capacity of an existing 5ESS® switch in less space and can save telecom customers up to 50 percent each year on the total cost of owning a switch including office space, power, cooling, installation, maintenance and software-upgrade costs.SBC is deploying the high-capacity switch in its local network to interconnect, primarily, with wireless and long distance carriers in an application known as an access tandem switch. SBC is using the switch in several large markets to support existing network traffic and future growth."Deploying Lucent's new high-capacity tandem switch increases our efficiency and simplifies our network by avoiding the operations and maintenance costs, and complexity of adding multiple smaller switches," said Andre Fuetsch, SBC Vice President-Network Planning."Lucent is delivering on its commitment to SBC to evolve its embedded base of Lucent switches to help SBC manage costs and handle future growth," said Dave Geary, vice president and general manager of Lucent Technologies Convergence Solutions business. "The high- capacity tandem switch application is the first in a series of applications that we will introduce over the next year."In a separate release:Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) today introduced a new high- capacity switch and components to enable service providers to evolve their existing 5ESS(R) circuit switched networks to Internet Protocol networks. The new 5E-XC(TM) switch is part of Lucent's strategy to focus on near and clear market opportunities that play to the company's strengths - in this case circuit switching and circuit-to-packet evolution. The high-capacity switch consists of the most significant upgrades to the 5ESS switch in the last 10 years and nearly triples the capacity while requiring considerably less floor space. A large service provider is deploying the high-capacity switch in its local network to interconnect, primarily, with wireless and long distance carriers in an application known as an access tandem switch. (See separate release today). The tandem application is the first in a series of 5E-XC switch applications. "The 5E-XC portfolio offers the most significant enhancements to the 5ESS switch in the last decade," said Dave Geary, vice president and general manager of Lucent Technologies Convergence Solutions business. "We are delivering what our customers want - a cost-effective migration to next-generation packet networks -- having higher capacity, higher densities, higher speed interfaces while reducing footprint, reducing power, and simplifying software delivery. Next-generation voice networks will evolve from current investments, will be IP-based, and will be enabled through SIP." Lucent Technologies Inc.SBC Communications Inc.