Alcatel Brings MPLS to the Metro Edge, Facilitates Carrier-Class Ethernet Service Delivery in Interop Demo

PARIS, September 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced its participation in one of the first public multi-vendor carrier Ethernet interoperability tests in Europe. Alcatel, along with 11 other Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) members, will publicly demonstrate a scalable end-to-end multi-vendor carrier Ethernet network carrying business and residential triple play services. The MEF interoperability demonstration will be showcased at the Carrier Ethernet World Congress (CEWC) in Berlin, Germany, on September 12-16.

As part of the demonstration, a range of different access devices will be connected to the Alcatel 7450 Ethernet Service Switch (ESS), which is forming the MPLS backbone. Based on its MPLS support through to the edge and using Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) as the underlying technology, the Alcatel 7450 ESS will deliver applications such as multicast video distribution, voice over IP and managed enterprise Ethernet services - each with varying class of service requirements.

"This interoperability clearly shows that carrier-class Ethernet service delivery is a reality," said Basil Alwan, president of Alcatel's IP activities. "We are demonstrating our commitment to standards, by interoperating with a wide range of access devices, and our proven ability to bring the benefits of MPLS out of the core and into the metro edge - enabling service providers and enterprises to respond to their complex on-demand service requirements without having to compromise on quality."

The interop staging was performed in the European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC) labs in Berlin on September 6.

Visit Alcatel at the Carrier Ethernet World Congress. Rolando Oliver will present in the MEF workshop on the topic: "Analyzing the economics of carrier Ethernet" on September 12 at 10:25am. Massimo Leo will present on September 15, 11:50 to 12:25, on the topic: "Deploying carrier Ethernet to deliver triple play services".

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 12.3 billion and 56,000 employees in 2004, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com

Alcatel Press Contacts Aurélie Boutin / HQ Tel :+33-(0)1-40-76-11-79 aurelie.boutin@alcatel.com Mark Burnworth / HQ Tel :+33-(0)1-40-76-50-84 mark.burnworth@alcatel.com Alcatel Investor Relations Pascal Bantegnie Tel : +33-(0)1-40-76-52-20 pascal.bantegnie@alcatel.com Nicolas Leyssieux Tel : +33-(0)1-40-76-37-32 nicolas.leyssieux@alcatel.com Maria Alcon Tel : +33-(0)1-40-76-15-17 maria.alcon@alcatel.com Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane Tel : +1-703-668-3571 charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.com