Alcatel-Lucent Opens World-Class Technology Showcase Center in Brazil

SAO PAULO, May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris andNYSE: ALU) today announced the opening of a world-class technology showcase center in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The center will highlight a range of advanced technologies and applications – including 4G LTE, video applications, cloud and location-based services – to help Brazilian fixed and mobile service providers respond to the challenges created by the mobile data explosion occurring across their networks. The investment is a further example of Alcatel-Lucent's commitment to Brazil, already a strategic partner of the major service providers in the country and across the region.

The center occupies nearly 15,400 square feet of space in the company's premises in Sao Paulo, and will receive visitors from Brazil and other countries in Latin America. It features executive meeting rooms with full videoconference capability to host customers and help them to experience the world of technologies available in the center.

"Brazil is one of the fastest growing economies today, and telecommunications is a fundamental driver for the socioeconomic development of this region," said Robert Vrij, President, Americas, Alcatel-Lucent. "The creation of a world-class technology showcase in Brazil will help highlight the rapid innovation occurring in the industry, and ensure that the region's operators remain competitive in today's ever-changing global economy. By keeping their workforce on pace with the rapid-advancements in technology and social media, it will also improve the welfare of their citizens and help bridge the digital divide."

Investment in telecommunications infrastructure in Brazil is critical as service providers prepare their networks to handle the exponential traffic generated by smart phones and as the country prepares for two major events – the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. A robust telecoms infrastructure will enable Brazil to offer the new types of applications and services that customers desire, and generate accompanying revenue streams that will significantly stimulate the local economy and create a more inclusive society.

According to a model developed by Bell Labs and the World Economic Forum, the right combination of actions and investment can accelerate the economic impact of broad access to mobile communications services by as much as 36 percent, measured in GDP.

Including the new location in Brazil, Alcatel-Lucent has now 11 technology showcase centers around the world: Plano (USA), Murray Hill (USA), Whippany (USA), Ottawa (Canada), Sydney, Australia), Shanghai (China), Antwerp(Belgium), Paris (France), Moscow(Russia) and Cairo (Egypt).

About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris andNYSE : ALU)

The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises, strategic industries and governments around the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leader in mobile, fixed, IP and optics technologies, and a pioneer in applications and services. Alcatel-Lucent includes Bell Labs, one of the world's foremost centres of research and innovation in communications technology.

With operations in more than 130 countries and one of the most experienced global services organizations in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach.

The Company achieved revenues of Euro 16 billion in 2010 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