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Casema and Alcatel-Lucent successfully perform

Announcement posted by Alcatel-Lucent 10 May 2007

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) and Casema, one of the largest cable operators in the Netherlands with more than 1.4 million subscribers, today announced that it has successfully tested Universal WiMAX in the Netherlands. Casema is the first operator in the to conduct verification testing for WiMAX, and it used the most advanced version, Universal WiMAX 802. 16e-2005.

 

 

This field trial is a significant step toward satisfying growing demand in the for access to advanced broadband Internet services from any location. The trial has been designed to test several applications in the framework of the “Smart Homes” project, which is subsidized by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affaires and is designed to improve the overall welfare of the community by leveraging advances in telecommunications technology in three critical areas. Those areas are videoconferencing/telemedicine for welfare and care; video surveillance for security; and broadband Internet access to enhance general communications.

 

The WiMAX pilot network was deployed by Alcatel-Lucent in January in the southwestern part of the country and complies with the latest mobile WiMAX standard (IEEE 802.16e-2005). WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, and it is a flexible technology designed to provide broadband wireless access to users in wide coverage areas. This technology enables people to access high-speed, high-quality broadband wireless services wherever they are and wherever they go, making it truly "Universal Wireless" broadband access.

 

“The deployment of this WiMAX pilot network plays a key role in accelerating the realization of the ‘Smart Homes’ project. Very soon, our existing broadband customers will be able to enjoy broadband services no matter where they are as they travel around the country,” said Mirko Mensink, Director Strategy and Partnership Management from Casema. ”We selected Alcatel-Lucent because its solution complies fully with the WiMAX Rev-e standard and because of its demonstrated commitment to provide operators with the most advanced solutions to help them meet their customers’ needs. The facts that Alcatel-Lucent’s solution is available now and can be easily integrated into our network were also important factors in our decision."

 

 

 

Alcatel-Lucent provided a complete WiMAX solution that operates in the 2.5 GHz frequency band, including base station equipment, wireless access controller, operation and maintenance center, customer premises equipment (CPE) – including WiMAX fixed CPE and PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) cards for laptop computers -- to deliver Internet broadband access when on the move. Alcatel-Lucent also provided its advanced WiMAX engineering expertise and integration services.

 


"This field trial with Casema further illustrates Alcatel-Lucent's commitment to WiMAX as a key element of its universal broadband access strategy,” said Luc Defieuw, Vice President Benelux and Scandinavia
from Alcatel-Lucent. “WiMAX has the potential to give people access to cutting-edge and useful broadband services, no matter where they are and innovative service providers like Casema are leveraging that potential to better meet the needs of their customers. "

 

 

Alcatel-Lucent’s WiMAX solution integrates state-of-the-art advanced antenna technology such as “Beamforming ” (*) that enables better indoor penetration of the radio signal while reducing the number of radio sites needed to provide coverage -– in some instances by as much as 40 percent. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent proposes fixed and nomadic terminals from various CPE partners in a global end-to-end offering. This is part of Alcatel-Lucent’s Open CPE policy, which aims at promoting an open device ecosystem and ensuring customers have the widest possible range of interoperable end-user devices.

 

 

Alcatel-Lucent is among the world’s leading WiMAX vendors, with more than 40 operators worldwide deploying its WiMAX equipment.

 

 

About WiMAX: WiMAX (802.16e-2005) stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. It enables Voice and Broadband connectivity for fixed, nomadic or mobile use in urban, suburban and rural areas. For more information about WiMAX: For more information, please click here

 

 

* “Beamforming” is an Advanced Antenna Technology (AAT) that ensures that radio power is where the WiMAX terminals are, adjusting the beam automatically as the terminals move around the coverage area.

 

 

About Casema

 

Casema has about 12,500 miles of cables in the ground, which are used to provide over 1.4 million households with radio, (digital) TV, Internet and telephony. Thanks to its modern cable system, it has become a leading supplier of network services and entertainment. Casema is active in and around cities such as The Hague, Amersfoort, Utrecht, Amstelveen and Breda . Under the name Casema Zakelijk we also provide network services to businesses. Casema's list of services include: radio and television, digital television, internet via the cable, telephony, IP-television, pay-per-view, data communication, video-on-demand. Casema is a member of VECAI, the trade organization for Dutch cable companies. In addition we are part of EPN and ECCA, the European association of cable operators.

 

 

About Alcatel-Lucent

 

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved adjusted proforma revenues of Euro 18.3 billion in 2006 and is incorporated in , with executive offices located in Paris . [All figures exclude impact of activities transferred to Thales]. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

 

 

Alcatel-Lucent Press Contacts

 

Régine Coqueran

 

Tel :+ 33 (0)1 40 76 49 24

 

regine.coqueran@alcatel-lucent.com

 

Mary Ward

 

Tel.: +1 908 582 7658

 

mary.ward@alcatel-lucent.com