ZyXEL joins Alcatel-Lucent's small cell software licensing program to extend availability of high-quality mobile broadband connections in homes

PARIS, Feb. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading mobile broadband solution provider, ZyXEL, is to license and integrate product software from Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris andNYSE: ALU) into its range of consumer networking devices to help improve the coverage and quality of 3G mobile broadband services in homes across the globe.  

The growing number of people who use smartphones and tablet devices to access the Internet, play games and watch videos in their homes, often find that connections can be slow and coverage can be poor. This may be because of a weak signal due to the physical distance of the building from the operator's base station or because the structure of the building is impeding the signal. These issues can be solved by the installation of residential small cells – small wireless base stations – that can be easily installed by homeowners themselves to improve mobile broadband speed and quality.

As part of Alcatel-Lucent's Software Licensing Program, ZyXEL will integrate Alcatel-Lucent's residential small cell software with its own broadband and wireless products, to provide consumers with high-speed, high-performance connections to the mobile broadband network in their homes. Using the two industry leaders' combined expertise, these products – or 'CPEs' (Customer Premises Equipment) - will allow operators to satisfy their customers' demands with consistent 'five-bar' signals. ZyXEL's new small cell CPEs will also be a good choice for service providers as they will utilize Alcatel-Lucent's existing small cell software, already used by many operators worldwide.   

Wayne Hwang, Assistant VP of Wireless Strategy Business Unit of ZyXEL, said: "At ZyXEL, our mission is to develop IP-enabled wired and wireless broadband solutions that help people communicate more effectively while enjoying a seamlessly connected network. Alcatel-Lucent's residential small cell software will help us deliver products with a competitive edge, while allowing us to provide high-quality, high-performance mobile broadband solutions for homes across the globe to enhance the mobile broadband experience for customers."

Mike Schabel, VP of Alcatel-Lucent's small cell business said:  "As more people are using mobile devices at home, they expect the same high-quality experience they get by switching on their television or using their gaming consoles. Alcatel-Lucent is a leader in small cell solutions, and our Software Licensing Program allows us to work with companies such as ZyXEL to leverage their product capabilities and integrate our expertise into a range of new home routers, set-top boxes and more to make small cell technology available to more people at lower costs. Additionally the program enables the creation of new revenue streams for Alcatel-Lucent."

About Alcatel-Lucent's 9361 Home Cell (HC) Softcell Software Licensing Program

Alcatel-Lucent's Software Licensing Program - 9361 HC Softcell - allows operators to work with selected partners of Alcatel-Lucent or their preferred customer premises equipment (CPE) vendors to benefit from low-cost CPE, pre-integrated with the same high-quality Alcatel-Lucent software used in all its W-CDMA residential products. This gives CPE vendors and mobile service provider's access to Alcatel-Lucent's extensive experience in delivering end-to-end wireless features and allows them to benefit from using reliable software with proven security standards. 

About ZyXEL Communications

ZyXEL Communications Corp., founded in 1989, is the world-class networking company providing IP-enabled wired and wireless broadband solutions. ZyXEL is one of the few companies in the world capable of offering complete networking solutions for Telcos, small-Medium sized businesses, and home users for a wide range of deployment scenarios to construct and enhance Internet accessibility and connectivity efficiently and extensively. Telco solutions include Central Office Equipment (COEs), Customer Premises Equipment (CPEs), 3G and 4G/LTE Wired and Wireless Access Network Devices, and Carrier Switches. SMB solutions include Unified Security Gateways, LAN Switches, WLAN, and IP Telephony. Digital Home solutions include Home Network Connectivity Devices and Cloud Multimedia Solutions.

For complete information about ZyXEL and all product portfolios, please visit ZyXEL on: http://www.zyxel.com

About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris andNYSE: ALU)

The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments around the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leading innovator in the field of networking and communications technology, products and services. The company is home to Bell Labs, one of the world's foremost research centers, responsible for breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry.

Alcatel-Lucent innovations are regularly recognized by international institutions for their positive impact on society. In 2012 and for the second year running, Alcatel-Lucent was named one of the Thomson Reuters Top 100 Global Innovators, recognition for the company's continued addition to its world-class patent portfolio, one of the largest in the telecom industry. Alcatel-Lucent has also been recognized for its sustainability performance. In 2012 the company was ranked Technology Supersector Leader by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Through its innovations, Alcatel-Lucent is making communications more sustainable, more affordable and more accessible as we pursue our mission of Realizing the Potential of a Connected World.

With operations throughout the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The Company achieved revenues of Euro 14.4 billion in 2012 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.

For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com, read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow the Company on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.

SOURCE Alcatel-Lucent