Orascom Picks AlcaLu WiMax

PARIS -- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) and Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited (“Mobilink”), the leading mobile operator in Pakistan and a wholly owned subsidiary of Orascom Telecom Holding, announced today that they have signed a contract to participate in deploying Pakistan’s first live network based on the Universal 802.16e-2005 WiMAX solution. The network will cover major cities in Pakistan, including Karachi, the nation’s financial capital and the major business center.

Based on the latest IEEE 802.16e-2005 standards (also called Rev-e), the new WiMAX network will be deployed in the 3.5 GHz spectrum enabling rapid implementation of broadband services available in fixed and nomadic environments. It will deliver high-speed internet access, enabling the delivery of advanced broadband multimedia services, such as video streaming, through a variety of end-user devices including laptops, desktop computers, modems and WiMAX terminals.

“The deployment of WiMAX will enable our subsidiaries to complement their GSM offering with broadband services,” said Tamer El Mahdi, CTO of Orascom Telecom Holding.

“The introduction of WiMAX will help us address the needs of our corporate and residential subscribers in Pakistan who want the ability to access wireless broadband services everywhere and at anytime,” said Marwan Hayek, CTO of Mobilink.

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)