PARIS -- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) has been selected by Azteca Comunicaciones Colombia, a leading communications services provider in Colombia, as a major supplier for the deployment of a nationwide broadband network that will connect 753 municipalities across the country. This network will bring high-quality TV, video, voice and high-speed data services to millions of consumers and business users throughout Colombia.

‘The National Fiber Optic Network from Compartel Program’ is a flagship project from the Ministry of Information Technology and Communication (MINTIC). One of its goals is to increase broadband coverage from 27.2% to 95.5% by 2014. Earlier in the year, this project received the prestigious ‘Government Leadership Award 2012’ by the GSM Association (GSMA) as the best Internet access expansion project.

Alexandra Reyes, CEO of Azteca Comunicaciones Colombia said: "The government of Colombia has set very aggressive targets for increasing the availability of broadband services throughout the country. We turned to Alcatel-Lucent because of its experience with the deployment of large-scale, complex broadband networks. Our collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent - one of the broadband market leaders - will help us to ensure that this project is completed quickly and with exceptional quality."

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)