Key Element of This Initiative is a LTE Trial and Related Innovative Features

Mobile World Congress, BARCELONA, February 17, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced it has signed a cooperation agreement with Telecom Italia (TI) to engage in a new technology development program, including a trial of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless broadband technology. The joint program aims to assess the evolution of mobile radio access network, in order to prepare Telecom Italia to offer its customers a wider range of next-generation services, by optimising investments.

Leveraging the respective strengths of TI Lab and Bell Labs, Alcatel-Lucent's research arm, two of the industry's leading R&D organizations, a unique end-to-end LTE trial has been initiated. The trial will assess how to deploy next-generation mobile access technology and how to fully exploit its capabilities, in order to introduce new mobile services, while reducing the time-to-market.

To this end, the field trial will also focus on the usage of small cell solutions (such as pico cells) to address "hot spot" and indoor coverage applications, and their related throughput and latency performance.

In parallel, TI Lab and Bell Labs will investigate even more specific and advanced LTE-related topics, through simulations and analysis. Architectural analyses will be conducted, and unique proof of concepts will be realized - all aimed at giving Telecom Italia unique insights into LTE's efficiency and evolutionary capabilities.

"Partnering with Telecom Italia to innovate in LTE illustrates the strength of Alcatel-Lucent's transformation strategy and our commitment to deliver value to our customers," said Stefano Lorenzi, head of Alcatel-Lucent's activities in the central Mediterranean countries. "This initiative also is fully in line with Alcatel-Lucent's application enablement vision and High Leverage Network(TM) strategy."

About Alcatel-Lucent and LTE

With 40 LTE customer trials secured to date, Alcatel-Lucent is a worldwide leader in LTE. The company is actively engaged in the majority of LTE projects being pursued by tier 1 operators around the globe. To help operators realize their potential, Alcatel-Lucent is offering a unique, pre-integrated, end-to-end LTE solution and a full set of associated professional services. Alcatel-Lucent's network architecture is based on Alcatel-Lucent unique converged radio access network (http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/wps/portal/newsreleases/detail?LMSG_CABINET= Docs_and_Resource_Ctr&LMSG_CONTENT_FILE=News_Releases_2010/News_Article_ 001934.xml&lu_lang_code=en) (RAN) strategy allowing scaling of W-CDMA networks and smooth evolution to LTE. The company also founded the ng Connect Program (http://www.ngconnect.org/about-us/index.htm), a global initiative to drive the development of an open and diverse ecosystem of LTE device manufacturers, content providers and application partners. Through the ng Connect program and with Alcatel-Lucent's end-to-end LTE solution, wireless broadband operators benefit from open innovation, pre-integrated solutions, reduce time to market with LTE-enabled services, and the ability to drive new and non-traditional business models. For more information about Alcatel-Lucent's end-to-end LTE solution, please visit: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/lte

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About Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted transformation partner of service providers, enterprises, strategic industries such as defense, energy, healthcare, transportation, and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 15.2 billion in 2009 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

SOURCE Alcatel-Lucent

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