PARIS -- Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced that Proximus,the leading mobile operator in Belgium, has deployed the first phase of its data backbone for 3Gmobile communications using the Alcatel multiservice solution. By running its universal mobiletelecommunication system network (UTMS) over an Alcatel converged network, the Belgian operatorcan offer multiple, new and existing revenue generating services over a highly reliable network withguaranteed quality of service (QoS).

Proximus is the first Belgian mobile operator to launch its 3G services, which took place on April 8,2004. The Alcatel equipped network currently covers the capital city Brussels and other major citiesin Belgium.

The Proximus high-speed data transfer mobile network is based on the Alcatel 7670 Routing SwitchPlatform (RSP) and the Alcatel 5620 Network Manager (NM), a managed, single-platform solutionthat supports aggregation and transport network consolidation of all generations of mobile traffic.

“Mobile operators are seeking competitive, future-proof solutions that will support all types of mobilevoice and data traffic,” said Basil Alwan, president of Alcatel’s IP activities. “Alcatel is well versed inthe mobile market and supplies global systems for mobile communications networks worldwide. TheProximus project is an excellent example of enabling enhanced 3G mobile communications byconsolidating UMTS services on a highly reliable network. ”

The Alcatel solution also has the built in functionality necessary for an operator to migrate to IP(Internet Protocol) services in concert with evolving market conditions and UMTS standards. TheAlcatel 7670 RSP provides the reliability, scalability and multiprotocol performance necessary forservice providers to expand their service offerings as they choose. Multiple concurrent services canbe provided over this platform, including MPLS-based IP VPN, Frame Relay VPN, Ethernet-FrameRelay VPN service interworking, transparent LAN services (TLS), voice over packet and circuitemulation. Alcatel provides carriers with the ability to seamlessly manage multiple services over theirexisting infrastructure while protecting established high revenue services, and scale their network tomeet the exploding growth of traffic.

Proximus

Alcatel SA