Alcatel and Globalcom Data Services partner to introduce Universal 802.16e WiMAX in the Middle East

Paris - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced that it has been selected by Globalcom Data Services, an innovative Lebanese Broadband Data Operator, to conduct the first IEEE 802.16e-2005 WiMAX trial in the Middle East. This trial will start in November 2006 and will help GDS to assess the capacity of WIMAX before commercial deployment in Lebanon.

The trial is operating in the 2.5 GHz frequency band and is based on Alcatel's Universal WiMAX IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard equipment. Alcatel will provide GDS with its Alcatel 9100 Evolium® WiMAX end-to-end radio solution, including base stations, wireless access controller, operation and maintenance center as well as indoor CPEs (Customer Premises Equipment). Alcatel's solution will provide broadband wireless Internet access at a burst rate of up to 12 Mbps.

"GDS is planning to provide broadband access all over Lebanon by the end of 2007. In large cities, broadband access will be provided through DSL and WiMAX will act as a complement to DSL. Outside the large cities, WiMAX will be the primary access," commented Dr. Habib Torbey, President of GlobalCom Data Services. "We see a big potential for WiMAX technology in Lebanon in the near future and we are looking forward to extending our partnership with Alcatel, a strong and committed player in the field. We plan not only to be the first service provider to introduce WiMAX technology in Lebanon, but also in the entire Middle Eastern market".

"We have always been a committed partner to GDS and we are proud to partner with them again for this exciting project, as we believe that WiMAX is bound to be a major broadband access technology in the coming years", said Olivier Picard, President of Alcatel's activities in Europe & South.

Alcatel's Universal WiMAX solution integrates the most advanced radio technology available on the market today. The Alcatel Evolium® 9116 WiMAX base station is compact and easy-to-install, enabling easy site acquisition, fast rollout and flexible configuration. Built-in AAS (Advanced Antenna System) technologies including beamforming and later MIMO, enable higher throughputs, longer reach and sharply lowered capital expenditures.

Alcatel has begun shipping Universal WiMAX IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard equipment and is supporting a number of WiMAX IEEE 802.16e-2005 trials worldwide.

About WIMAX
WiMAX is a broadband wireless access technology that enables connectivity through wireless networks for fixed, nomadic or mobile use in urban, suburban and rural areas. The technology offers a cost-effective broadband access alternative where DSL is unavailable for technical or economical reasons, or a last-mile alternative to unbundling for operators who are offering a combination of voice and broadband access offers to the next generation of wireless devices. The 802.16e-2005 WiMAX standard is a more advanced successor to 802d.16-2004 (called "Static WiMAX," or Revision d), and offers superior performance and flexibility in pure fixed deployment scenarios.

About Globalcom
Operating since 1997, GlobalCom Data Services (GDS) is the national leader in wireless data communications offering a complete range of protocol-independent data telecommunication services. GDS has deployed its own telecommunication infrastructure covering all of Lebanon and totally independent of the Public Operator's network. GDS serves about thousands of connections under Frame Relay, ATM, Clear Channel, IP + MPLS and X.25 protocols for banks, financial, educational and health institutions, service providers, commercial companies and public institutions. For more information, visit GDS on the internet: http://www.gds.com.lb

About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 13.1 billion and 58,000 employees in 2005, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com

Posted On: 2006-11-16, 9:45 am

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