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Technology Stocks : Alcatel (ALA) and France -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: trenzich who wrote (921)	10/13/1999 10:06:00 AM
From: Steve Fancy	Respond to of 3891

Alcatel Launches Legal Action Against Orckit Communications Ltd. PR Newswire, Wednesday, October 13, 1999 at 09:17 Alcatel at Telecom 99 - Hall 4, Stand No. 210 GENEVA, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcatel (NYSE:ALA) today announced that its US company, Alcatel USA, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Orckit Communications Ltd. and Orckit Communications, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. In the complaint, Alcatel alleges that Orckit is infringing Alcatel's patent entitled "Method to Synchronize Data and a Transmitter and a Receiver Realizing Said Method," one of Alcatel's numerous patents relating to ADSL technology. Alcatel, a leader and innovator in ADSL technology, has a significant patent portfolio in the field, including a number of patents to be issued. NOTES International market research: Alcatel is Number One in ADSL: According to the project ESS update 39: Broadband Access systems in Public Networks from market research firm Dittberner Associates, Alcatel dominates the ADSL-DSLAM (equipment at the operator's site) market worldwide, with 49% of the total number of ADSL lines installed. No other vendor commands more than 15% in this area. From a Customer Premises Equipment perspective, Cahners In-Stat's August 1999 report (Q2 99 Analogue and Digital Modem Market Analysis) noted that Alcatel led the market in ADSL modem's shipped with 33% market share worldwide. In a separate development, a new survey from the international market research company Dataquest has also ranked Alcatel as the world leader in the overall supply of ADSL equipment -- both terminals and switch ports. In its Worldwide xDSL Market Share and Forecast 1999, Dataquest reports that Alcatel was the ADSL market leader and remained the largest company in the overall market for calendar 1998. Its research revealed that ADSL accounted for 57.5% of total xDSL revenues in 1998. About Alcatel Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data communications solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 21.3 billion ($25 billion), Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on Internet: alcatel.com For full Alcatel Geneva Telecom press list, consult: alcatel.com Contacts Alcatel Alcatel Telecom Geneva : Press Office : Tel + 41 22 746 5507/08 Olivier Le Friec : Tel : +33 (0)6 08 40 94 43 Willem Zevenbergen : Tel : +33 (0)6 07 86 76 04 Alcatel Press office (Paris) Tel : + 33 (0)1 40 76 12 98 Investor Relations Claire Pedini Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 93 Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 30 Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr Emmanuel Spite Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 16 04 Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr SOURCE Alcatel -0- 10/13/1999 /CONTACT: Alcatel Telecom Geneva: Press Office: +41-22-746-5507 or +41-22-746-5507-08; Olivier Le Friec, +33-6-08-40-94-43, or Willem Zevenbergen, +33-6-07-86-76-04; or Alcatel Press Office - Paris, +33-1-40-76-12-98; or Investor Relations - Claire Pedini, +33-1-40-76-13-93, Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr, or Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, +33-1-40-76-13-30, Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr, or Emmanuel Spite, +33-1-40-76-16-04, Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr, all of Alcatel/ /Web site: alcatel.fr

To: trenzich who wrote (921)	10/13/1999 10:10:00 AM
From: Steve Fancy	Respond to of 3891

Alcatel Doubles the Capacity of FLAG Atlantic-1 System With Its Optinex DWDM Technology PR Newswire, Wednesday, October 13, 1999 at 06:20 Alcatel at 99 -- Hall 4, Stand No. 210 GENEVA, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcatel (NYSE:ALA) has been awarded by FLAG Atlantic Limited, a 50:50 joint venture between FLAG Telecom and Global TeleSystems Group Inc., a contract to deliver the first dual transatlantic system to provide a traffic capacity of 2.4 Terabit/s. This capacity will be delivered on each of the two cables and represents the highest capacity so far available on a six fibre pair transoceanic system. This major enhancement to the capacity of the FLAG Atlantic system, which 10 months ago was the first terabit undersea cable to be announced world-wide, demonstrates again Alcatel's market leading technology in DWDM which responds to the accelerating demands for bandwidth globally. Jean Godeluck, Chief Operating Officer for the submarine networks activities of Alcatel, commented: "We have worked closely with the FLAG team and have taken full advantage of Alcatel's in-house research and development capability. We have again been able to provide FLAG Atlantic-1 with the competitive edge that comes from a technology offer which anticipates our customer's needs and leads the industry. Alcatel has been able to further build on this strength through its comprehensive turnkey approach, which has left FA-1 free to focus on its own customers." FLAG Atlantic-1 will be a loop system, connecting the East Coast of the United States, with nodes in Manhattan, to two landings in Europe -- one in Saint Brieuc, France and the other in Cornwall, UK with nodes in Paris and London respectively. A direct connection between London and Paris will also be established, using fibre through the Channel Tunnel. The system is planned to consist of three self-healing, high capacity loops with twin terrestrial access points connecting to GTS TEN (Trans European Network), as well as to the existing FLAG cable system, which stretches over 28,000 kilometres from the UK to Japan. Customers on FLAG Atlantic-1 will be able to add traffic either at the Landing Stations or at the city nodes. This configuration which is based on two widely separated cables crossing the Atlantic with independent landfalls at each end offers full redundancy from city to city. The two sub-sea sections of the cable are approximately 6,000 kilometres and 6,500 kilometres respectively, while the two terrestrial rings are approximately 120 kilometres and 1850 kilometres in length. This gives an overall system length of around 14,500 kilometres. "Alcatel and FLAG Atlantic-1 were able to develop a team approach which meant that problems were dealt with as they arose. Without a doubt, it was this team approach that has kept us ahead of the market in terms of the implementation programme and service offering," said John Draheim of FLAG Telecom. Steve Andrews of GTS added: "We are pleased with the flexibility that Alcatel has shown. The contract that we signed in January proved to be the starting point for developing the system and not a rigid document as is so often the case." Alcatel developed the technology for the FLAG Atlantic-1 system in its laboratories in France and England where it employs 2,000 people in the largest and most advanced facilities in the industry. Alcatel will engineer and implement the FLAG Atlantic-1 system from the first desk-based study of the route that the cables will take across the ocean, to the training of FA's staff on the operation and maintenance of the equipment. The FLAG Atlantic-1 system to be provided by Alcatel is designed from the start to deal with the IP traffic needs of the future and to provide the quality of service demanded by the end users of voice and data. About Alcatel Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data communications solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers world-wide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 23.1 billion ($25.0 billion), Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on Internet: alcatel.com . Alcatel is the world's leading integrated submarine networks supplier (http://www.alcatel.com/telecom/snd) able to offer turnkey solutions to its customers. Not only does Alcatel lead the world in terms of technology and capacity for its Optinex undersea systems, it has the largest manufacturing capacity at 80,000 km per year and is able to control installation schedules through its long-term leasing of four purpose-designed cable-lay vessels and three further vessels suitable for maintenance or ancillary operations. The company is currently working on a number of contracts around the world valued at some US$3.1 billion, most of which utilise DWDM technology. Current contracts include the most advanced undersea networks in the world today; Atlantica-1, Atlantis-2 and Columbus-3 systems in the Atlantic, the China-US, Japan-US and Southern Cross transpacific systems, and the MAC and MAYA-1 systems in the Americas. Alcatel has the largest market share in both the DWDM and submarine networks market segments, and is able to complement its global reach and presence with a true in-house, end to end, networking solution. Contacts Alcatel For full Alcatel Geneva Telecom press list, consult : alcatel.com Alcatel Telecom Geneva : Press Office : Tel : + 41 22 746 5507/08 Olivier Le Friec : Tel : +33 (0)6 08 40 94 43 Willem Zevenbergen : Tel : +33 (0)6 07 86 76 04 Alcatel Press Office (Paris) Tel : + 33 (0)1 40 76 12 98 Investor Relations Claire Pedini Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 93 Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 30 Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr Emmanuel Spite Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 16 04 Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr SOURCE Alcatel -0- 10/13/1999 /CONTACT: Alcatel Telecom Geneva: Press Office: +41-22-746-5507 or +41-22-746-5508; or Olivier Le Friec, +33-6-08-40-94-43, or Willem Zevenbergen, +33-6-07-86-76-04; or Alcatel Press Office -- Paris, +33-1-40-76-12-98; or Investor Relations -- Claire Pedini, +33-1-40-76-13-93, or Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr, or Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, +33-1-40-76-13-30, or Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr, or Emmanuel Spite, +33-1-40-76-16-04, or Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr, all of Alcatel/ /Web site: http://http://www.alcatel.fr/

To: trenzich who wrote (921)	10/13/1999 10:12:00 AM
From: Steve Fancy	Respond to of 3891

Alcatel Introduces ADSL-Based Instant Internet and Other New Features in Its Wireline Access Portfolio With Litespan-1540 PR Newswire, Wednesday, October 13, 1999 at 04:50 Alcatel at Telecom 99 -- Hall 4, Stand No. 210 GENEVA, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Alcatel (NYSE:ALA) unveiled a new feature package in its wireline access portfolio for ETSI markets, with its Litespan-1540. Alcatel's Litespan-1540 seamlessly builds on the Alcatel 1540 MSAN permitting telecom operators to serve both their business and residential customers from a single node. This modular platform provides high-quality traditional voice and data services in addition to Instant Internet and multimedia in a flexible, future-safe environment. With the introduction of this new feature package, telecom operators now have a real solution for their customers requiring narrowband and broadband services. "Litespan-1540 is a tailored solution for today's telecom operators who want to be ready to meet all of tomorrow's challenges," confirms Luis Martinez Amago, Vice President of Alcatel's ETSI wireline access activities. "ADSL integration, greater capacity and flexible configurations make the Litespan-1540 the best multiservice access solution on the market today." Alcatel's Litespan-1540 combines in the same shelf the most advanced ADSL technology for instant Internet with the usual narrowband services on a board per board basis. The equipment is gaining in compactness also incorporating an Add/Drop Multiplexer reduced to a single board. Its subscriber capacity has doubled, with 30 subscribers to every POTS card and 16 subscribers to every ISDN card. Litespan-1540 is extremely flexible and supports many different network topologies on the backbone side, including SDH STM-1/4, HDSL and optical PDH as well as multiple capacities (from tens to thousands of subscribers per node). Depending on the network's size, Litespan-1540 can be managed with a simple laptop or as an element of a 3-layered integrated management system with full interoperability. Litespan-1540 is a future proof solution with the necessary bandwidth and ease-of-upgrade to allow the operator to introduce any service upon demand. A pioneer in wireline access systems, Alcatel consolidates its Multiservice Access offering in a single family, Litespan, featuring specific characteristics to meet all market requirements for ETSI specs (Litespan-1540) and ANSI specs (Litespan-2000). Backed by the largest installed base with more than 20 million installed access lines on the five continents, Alcatel is recognized as the worldwide market leader in the wireline access segment. Note to the editor: Litespan-1540: Added Value for Telecom Operators The new feature package in the Litespan-1540 lets telecom operators provide multiservice offerings with clear advantages like the following: Flexibility The Litespan-1540 provides any combination of voice and data services in both the residential and business sectors serving the narrowband and broadband needs of the subscribers. Scalability The "invest as you grow" philosophy allows the operator to introduce new services upon demand. Boards are interchangeable without traffic interruption allowing the operator to replace POTS boards with ADSL boards, for example, as broadband service demand grows. Thanks to this "universal slot" concept, each system can gracefully evolve to meet future needs as the service mix changes over time. *Ease Ease of installation, operation and maintenance, thanks to a modular equipment concept and a reduction at minimum of the number of spares. The new feature package also affects the operators' bottom line reducing both the CAPEX and the OPEX: Reduction in the copper plant, ducts and buildings by providing indoor, outdoor and underground cabinets thus reducing floor space requirements. Optimal use of bandwidth due to the use of fiber as well as multiplexing and concentration technologies. Integrated network management with an intuitive and easy-to-use graphical interface, simplifying the daily management of the network. The reach of broadband services is extended, making the "Fiber-to-the-Economical-Point" concept (i.e. to-the-curb, to-the-home, etc.) real and allowing for optimal "bandwidth management." Full interoperability with other vendor's equipment is ensured, employing the V5.1 and V5.2 for narrowband and, in the near future, VB5.1 and VB5.2 for broadband interfaces. Litespan-1540: What's New? ADSL in the access node The most advanced ADSL technology for Instant Internet access is now combined in the same shelf together with the usual narrowband subscriber services. Any combination of services is available by simply plugging in the ADSL board alongside the narrowband boards. Improved subscriber capacity Litespan-1540 services more subscribers with fewer boards. Now, line card capacity for POTS service is extended to 30 subscribers; 16 for ISDN. This increase translates into less equipment and greater savings for the telecom operators. ADM on a single board The Add/Drop Multiplexer has been reduced to a single board in the Litespan-1540 node. This compact and powerful solution brings the advantages of SDH closer to the end-user. Flexible configurations for every situation An access network needs to be tailored to the demographics and telecommunication service demands of each operator's service area in order to keep investment and operational costs to a minimum. This is why the Litespan-1540 supports many different network topologies on the backbone side, including SDH STM-1/4, HDSL and optical PDH as well as multiple capacities (from tens to thousands of subscribers per node). This compact equipment can be configured as indoor or can be housed in robust outdoor (and even underground) cabinets. Integrated Network Management The integrated vision of management of the various levels of access, transport and switching is an added value in Alcatel's networks. As such, the Litespan-1540 also includes a Network Management solution that is compliant with the ITU TMN standards and enhanced with additional advanced features that configure the Alcatel Management Platform (ALMAP). Depending on the network's size, Litespan-1540 can be managed with a simple laptop or as an element of a 3-layered integrated management system. A future proof solution New functionality is constantly being introduced to the Litespan-1540 portfolio such as VoIP, Fr-to-ATM conversions, VDSL and intelligent MDFs. The future's technologies have yet to be defined but the Litespan-1540, with the necessary bandwidth and ease-of-upgrade, is ready to meet all of tomorrow's challenges. About Alcatel Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 21.3 billion ($25.0 billion), Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on Internet: http:/www.alcatel.com Contacts Alcatel For full Alcatel Geneva Telecom press list, consult: alcatel.com Alcatel Telecom Geneva: Press Office: Tel: +41 22 746 5507/08 Olivier Le Friec: Tel: +33 (0)6 08 40 94 43 Willem Zevenbergen: Tel: +33 (0)6 07 86 76 04 Alcatel Press office (Paris) Tel: + 33 (0)1 40 76 12 98 Investor Relations Claire Pedini Tel: +33 (0)1 40 76 13 93 Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane Tel: +33 (0)1 40 76 13 30 Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr Emmanuel Spite Tel: +33 (0)1 40 76 16 04 Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr SOURCE Alcatel -0- 10/13/1999 /CONTACT: Alcatel Telecom Geneva: Press Office: +41-22-746-5507 or +41-22-746-5508; or Olivier Le Friec, +33-6-08-40-94-43, or Willem Zevenbergen, +33-6-07-86-76-04; or Alcatel Press Office -- Paris, +33-1-40-76-12-98; or Investor Relations -- Claire Pedini, +33-1-40-76-13-93, or Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr, or Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, +33-1-40-76-13-30, or Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr, or Emmanuel Spite, +33-1-40-76-16-04, or Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr, all of Alcatel/ /Web site: alcatel.fr

To: trenzich who wrote (921)	10/13/1999 10:13:00 AM
From: Steve Fancy	Respond to of 3891

Alcatel Provides High-Speed Net Access for Telstra PR Newswire, Wednesday, October 13, 1999 at 04:27 Alcatel at Telecom 99 -- Hall 4, Stand No. 210 GENEVA, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcatel (NYSE:ALA) is providing Telstra with over 500,000 lines of its next generation Litespan-1540 equipment that will enable the Australian operator to offer advanced broadband services -- as part of the second phase of its Data Mode of Operation (DMO) strategy. Alcatel's Multiservice Access platform (Litespan 1540) will provide Telstra's customers with one point of access to voice, data and Internet services and allow the rapid and efficient deployment of future broadband technologies on the existing copper wire network. Litespan1540 uses new broadband technology to support Alcatel's ADSL solution. Alcatel holds the leading position worldwide in ADSL deployment, especially in the US where it deploys 55% of total ADSL shipments. Alcatel's equipment will be centrally managed by its access domain manager that will enable remote activation and maintenance of services. This means customers can quickly gain access to any service they want, and Telstra can tailor these to their needs. Telstra can rapidly activate ADSL remotely, with the customer only having to plug in an ADSL modem. And with a range of ADSL modems and PC equipment already available on the market, the activation of ADSL service will be even easier. According to Alcatel's Asia Pacific President, Ron Spithill, "Telstra will benefit from a solution which is extremely integrated, flexible, modular and future safe. With Alcatel's Litespan-1540 a vast majority of Narrowband subscriber services (switched and data) are supported and combined in the same shelf with the most advanced ADSL technology for ultra fast Internet access. This basically means that the operator can deliver any service ranging from narrowband to broadband, using one single product and tailor the investment to the customers' demand evolution. The network solutions that ISPs, carriers and enterprises choose today will open up a world of multimedia applications. Alcatel will continue to lead the world in providing solutions that improve the way we work, live and play." Note to Editors Litespan-1540 Alcatel's Litespan-1540 is a multiservice solution that simultaneously supports a whole range of services, including voice, video, data, Internet and transport services. It is suitable for immediate deployment, enabling rapid provision of services. The robust solution supports all major standardized interfaces such as V5.1 and V5.2 for narrowband services and VB5.1 and VB5.2 for broadband interfaces. This enables it to adapt easily to different topologies and will support tomorrow's multimedia super-information highways. Litespan-1540 (called CMux by Telstra) will supersede the Remote Integrated Multiplexers (RIM), of which Alcatel has supplied over 1 million lines to Telstra. Alcatel's Litespan-1540 is being delivered worldwide and has been tested or selected for major projects. Just to name a few, in Japan, Philippines, China, India, Singapore, Taiwan, UK, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Middle East ... Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) transforms an operator's existing copper twisted pair investment into a multimedia broadband distribution system. The Alcatel ADSL system can support high speed data, while delivering simultaneous basic telephony services. It is offered over the Multi-standard-compliant (T1.413, G.Lite, G.DMT) Alcatel ASAM (ADSL Subscriber Access Multiplexer) and advanced range of Alcatel ADSL modems. An active contributor to the various standards bodies creating ADSL standards, Alcatel continues to work to ensure mass-market availability of high-speed Internet access based on a single, standardised ADSL technology. Operators and service providers have the choice of offering a wide range of services to subscribers connected to a single type of ADSL DSLAM, ranging from very high to medium bit-rates. ADSL allows for simultaneous voice and Internet traffic on the same phone line. This solution allows the existing copper access loops to be used to increase data channel speeds some 200 times (compared with the dial-up modem), while retaining the existing telephone channel. Alcatel is the world's leading supplier of ADSL technology, with 70 per cent of the Asia Pacific market, and 55 per cent of the market in the USA, where it expects to ship more than one million lines this year. Alcatel has delivered and installed its ADSL equipment with US operators Ameritech, BellSouth, Southwestern Bell (JPC) and Bell Atlantic, at Singapore Telecom, Korea Telecom, PT Telecom of Indonesia, Telia in Sweden, BT, Belgacom, Telefonica in Spain, France Telecom, Telecom Italia plus successful implementations in ADSL networks in Japan and Denmark. Alcatel Access Domain Manager Alcatel's Access Domain Manager is a powerful management and remote provisioning solution. It allows windows based plug and play configuration access network wide. It upgrades an Access Network by downloading software, allows remote changes to POTS, ISDN, ADSL and supports dynamic arrangement of network resources according to customer needs. About Alcatel Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 21.3 billion ($25.0 billion), Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on Internet: alcatel.com Contacts Alcatel For full Alcatel Geneva Telecom press list, consult : alcatel.com Alcatel Telecom Geneva : Press Office : Tel : + 41 22 746 5507/08 Olivier Le Friec : Tel : + 33 (0)6 08 40 94 43 Willem Zevenbergen : Tel : + 33 (0)6 07 86 76 04 Alcatel Press Office (Paris) Tel : + 33 (0)1 40 76 12 98 Investor Relations Claire Pedini Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 93 Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 30 Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr Emmanuel Spite Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 16 04 Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr SOURCE Alcatel -0- 10/13/1999 /CONTACT: Alcatel Telecom Geneva: Press Office: +41-22-746-5507 or +41-22-746-5508; or Olivier Le Friec, +33-6-08-40-94-43, or Willem Zevenbergen, +33-6-07-86-76-04; or Alcatel Press Office -- Paris, +33-1-40-76-12-98; or Investor Relations -- Claire Pedini, +33-1-40-76-13-93, or Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr, or Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, +33-1-40-76-13-30, or Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr, or Emmanuel Spite, +33-1-40-76-16-04, or Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr, all of Alcatel/ /Web site: alcatel.fr

To: trenzich who wrote (921)	10/13/1999 10:14:00 AM
From: Steve Fancy	Respond to of 3891

Alcatel 1000 MM Switch Carrying Live Traffic in Italy PR Newswire, Wednesday, October 13, 1999 at 04:25 Alcatel at Telecom 99 -- Hall 4, Stand No. 210 GENEVA, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The new generation Alcatel 1000 MM is currently being installed in Italy by Infostrada, the first among the new fixed telecom operators in the recently deregulated Italian market. The first exchange of the new generation Alcatel 1000 MM, supplied to Infostrada has been cutover in commercial service and is generating revenues. The Alcatel 1000 MM is the commercial name of Alcatel's (NYSE:ALA) new generation Multimedia Multiservice Switch. At the end of 1998, Infostrada chose Alcatel to supply its telecommunications network equipment. The one-year contract -- valued at more than EUR 100 million -- includes the supply of advanced switching equipment, transmission systems, intelligent network, network management and fiber optic cables. By the end of 1999, the switching network will consist of 19 Alcatel 1000 exchanges of which four are high capacity Alcatel 1000 MM transit exchanges (Milan-Rome-Bologna-Napoli). The remaining, with tandem and international gateway functions, use today's leading edge technology. The Alcatel 1000 MM switch, operational in Italy, is the next generation switch based on the existing Alcatel 1000 S12 architecture in which the narrowband part is replaced by a high capacity broadband switching part. The new configuration includes the integration of cost effective SDH interfaces allowing for reduction in footprint and power consumption. The current Alcatel 1000 MM switch can grow up to 120,000 trunk channels with a capacity of 160 Gbit/s. With this new high capacity Alcatel 1000 MM switch, Infostrada has the basis to offer multimedia services to its customers. "The first high capacity switch of the new generation in the network is now carrying live traffic. This is the first step towards fulfilling our high capacity network offer for our customers," declared Giuseppe Gerarduzzi, Vice President Network, Infostrada. "The successful completion of the first Alcatel 1000 MM project in Milan and Rome is a major milestone in our multimedia multiservice high capacity switching systems," said Etienne Fouques, President of Alcatel's switching and routing activities in Alcatel. About Alcatel Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EUR 21.3 billion (US$25 billion), Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. About Infostrada Infostrada is the first alternative wireline telephone operator in Italy providing telephone and Internet services to both residential and business customers. Previously owned by the Olivetti Group, Infostrada is wholly owned by German Group Mannesmann since June 15th, 1999. The 1998 turnover of Infostrada reached 271 billion Lira while 1999 second quarter revenues reached 627 billion Lira. At the end of September 1999, Infostrada reached 2,134,000 voice customers and 650,000 Internet consumer customers. Contacts Alcatel For full Alcatel Geneva Telecom press list, consult : alcatel.com Alcatel Telecom Geneva : Press Office : Tel : + 41 22 746 5507/08 Olivier Le Friec : Tel : + 33 (0)6 08 40 94 43 Willem Zevenbergen : Tel : + 33 (0)6 07 86 76 04 Alcatel Press Office (Paris) Tel : + 33 (0)1 40 76 12 98 Investor Relations Claire Pedini Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 93 Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 30 Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr Emmanuel Spite Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 16 04 Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr SOURCE Alcatel -0- 10/13/1999 /CONTACT: Alcatel Telecom Geneva: Press Office: +41-22-746-5507 or +41-22-746-5508; or Olivier Le Friec, +33-6-08-40-94-43, or Willem Zevenbergen, +33-6-07-86-76-04; or Alcatel Press Office -- Paris, +33-1-40-76-12-98; or Investor Relations -- Claire Pedini, +33-1-40-76-13-93, or Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr, or Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, +33-1-40-76-13-30, or Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr, or Emmanuel Spite, +33-1-40-76-16-04, or Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr, all of Alcatel/ /Web site: alcatel.fr

To: trenzich who wrote (921)	10/13/1999 10:15:00 AM
From: Steve Fancy	Respond to of 3891

Alcatel and ArrowPoint Communications Announce OEM Agreement for Content Smart Web Switching Technology PR Newswire, Wednesday, October 13, 1999 at 04:22 ArrowPoint's Web Switching Becomes Part of Alcatel's Internet Product Portfolio For Web Hosting Companies, Service Providers, and E-Commerce Web Sites Alcatel at Telecom 99 -- Hall 4, Stand No. 210 GENEVA, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcatel, (NYSE:ALA) the world's leading ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) vendor, and ArrowPoint Communications, the pioneer of web switching solutions that optimize web response time, today announced the companies have signed an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) agreement for ArrowPoint's Content Smart(TM) web Switches. These new products provide Alcatel with a strategic platform for optimizing web response times and site reliability for business-critical e-commerce and commercial web sites, delivering web content to users faster and more reliably. The agreement is another significant step in the overall value chain that Alcatel is creating for service providers in relation to IP networking and complements the recent acquisition of Assured Access Technologies, Internet Devices, Packet Engines, and Xylan. Alcatel will resell co-branded ArrowPoint CS-100 and CS-800 Content Smart web switches which are available immediately through Alcatel's global sales organization. Designed specifically for how the web works, ArrowPoint's web switches optimize web response times, web site reliability, and infrastructure utilization, effectively eliminating bottlenecks at web servers and web caches that frustrate users with long waits and errors. ArrowPoint's unique content intelligence enables reliable and high performance web server traffic management for a variety of break-through web services, including shared business class web hosting, sophisticated e-commerce and streaming media services, flash crowd insurance, and service-tailored content caching. Welcoming the agreement, Martin de Prycker, President of Alcatel's carrier data activities said: "Alcatel has removed the bandwidth bottleneck at the customer premises with its range of ADSL modems and at the operator's Central Office with its DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) products. Alcatel can now enable service providers to offer guaranteed service levels to content providers, enterprise e-commerce sites, and other Internet-driven businesses, thanks to the functionality of ArrowPoint's innovative web switching technology. In combination with the complete range of Alcatel switching and routing products, Alcatel is the sole provider able to deliver complete carrier class solutions for web hosting applications". "This OEM agreement with an industry leader like Alcatel validates our web switching concept and vision for the content smart Internet," said Cheng Wu, ArrowPoint's founder, President and CEO. "Alcatel provides a powerful channel for ArrowPoint's web switching technology, and we are poised to dominate the market for products that optimize web response time and web site reliability. No other solution offers the content intelligence and complete web focus of our web switching products, and the Alcatel OEM agreement provides a world-class partner that reaches the top e-commerce and web businesses." Removing the Bottleneck Through this agreement, Alcatel helps remove throughput bottlenecks at a service provider's web hosting facility by allowing ArrowPoint's web switch to control content access with advanced functions such as load balancing and Smart Content Replication(TM). Service providers can also enhance performance and utilization of their caching resources through the web switches' ability to perform intelligent cache bypass for non-cacheable content and to optimize content availability in all major caching applications including transparent, proxy and reverse proxy implementations. This optimizes service providers' internal bandwidth, reducing the volume of traffic flowing from their ADSL equipment into the transmission network and any consequent delay. The ArrowPoint CS-100 and CS-800 Content Smart web switches provide a front-end for web server farms or cache clusters, maximizing server resources and optimizing performance of web caches. ArrowPoint's web switches dynamically direct specific content requests to the best site and best server at that moment, avoiding busy or overloaded sites. Because ArrowPoint's products have the unique intelligence to differentiate content based on universal resource locator (URL) and cookies, they are the only solution to provide policy-based prioritization for premium content requests or preferred users and tailor quality of service accordingly. This not only enables web hosting companies to offer tiered services, but also ensures their ability to meet service level agreements (SLAs). Research by Dittberner Associates, June 1999; Dataquest, July 1999; RHK, Jan 1999. About Alcatel Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 21.3 billion ($25.0 billion), Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on Internet: alcatel.com About ArrowPoint ArrowPoint Communications has pioneered web switching, the next generation networking technology that optimizes web response times and reliability for a consistently positive user experience. ArrowPoint's products are used in a broad range of applications, including electronic commerce, Web publishing, web caching, and value-added web hosting services. For more information, call 978.692.5875 or visit the company web site at www.arrowpoint.com. ArrowPoint is gaining momentum as a recognized technology innovator, winning a Hot Product award from Data Communications magazine in January of 1999. ArrowPoint's customers include the ACTV Network, Cube Technologies (web host for eCal), Exodus, Frontier GlobalCenter web host for Mpath and Nettaxi), MediaOne/Roadrunner, NaviSite (web host for "Ask AltaVista A Question", ThingWorld.com and major e-commerce sites), and UUnet (web hoster for ThriveOnline.com). Contacts Alcatel For full Alcatel Geneva Telecom press list, consult : alcatel.com Alcatel Telecom Geneva : Press Office : Tel : +41 22 746 5507/08 Olivier Le Friec : Tel : +33 (0)6 08 40 94 43 Willem Zevenbergen : Tel : +33 (0)6 07 86 76 04 Alcatel Press office (Paris) Tel : + 33 (0)1 40 76 12 98 Investor Relations Claire Pedini Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 93 Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 30 Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr Emmanuel Spite Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 16 04 Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr SOURCE Alcatel -0- 10/13/1999 /CONTACT: Alcatel Telecom Geneva: Press Office: +41-22-746-5507 or +41-22-746-5508; or Olivier Le Friec, +33-6-08-40-94-43, or Willem Zevenbergen, +33-6-07-86-76-04; or Alcatel Press Office -- Paris, +33-1-40-76- 12-98; or Investor Relations -- Claire Pedini, +33-1-40-76-13-93, or Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr, or Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, +33-1-40-76-13-30, or Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr, or Emmanuel Spite, +33-1-40-76-16-04, or Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr, all of Alcatel/ /Web site: alcatel.fr

To: trenzich who wrote (921)	10/13/1999 10:16:00 AM
From: Steve Fancy	Respond to of 3891

France Telecom and Alcatel Sign a Frame-Agreement For Fixed and Mobile Networks PR Newswire, Wednesday, October 13, 1999 at 03:35 Alcatel at Telecom Geneva -- Hall 4, Stand No. 210 GENEVA, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) and Alcatel (NYSE:ALA) have reached an agreement for the provision of switching systems as well as for Intelligent Networks. The frame agreement, spanning the 1999-2001 period, covers the fixed as well as mobile networks of France Telecom, both in France and abroad. Alcatel will supply, in particular, the Alcatel 1000 system which, starting this year, is evolving toward a multimedia multiservice switching and routing system, the Alcatel 1000 MM. The Alcatel 1000 MM is part of the Alcatel 2iP(TM) next generation networking product suite. It allows operators to provide converged services handling both data and voice calls at aims at ensuring a smooth evolution of these networks toward Internet and multimedia services. This is achieved, in particular, through the packetization of the switching core, powerful Network Intelligence as well as high-speed access and transport. It also incorporates Call Server and Voice-over-IP (VoIP) technologies that are particularly well adapted to the operators' new needs. Etienne Fouques, president of Alcatel's Switching and Routing division, declared: "We have a clear vision of the converged future and through the Alcatel 2iP program we are making this vision a reality. The Alcatel 2iP portfolio provides operators with complete carrier class solutions which allow them to migrate their existing infrastructure to the IP world in a cost-effective and flexible manner." This agreement follows two strategic contracts recently signed with the French operator. The first one concerns the densification of the Itineris GSM network of France Telecom Mobiles in the Paris area. The second contract confirmed the choice, for 1999, of the Alcatel ADSL technology for the deployment of access networks in France. These will provide residential subscribers and business users with high-speed Internet access as well as with digital asymmetric leased lines. About Alcatel Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 21.3 billion ($25.0 billion), Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on Internet: alcatel.com About France Telecom France Telecom is one of the world's leading telecommunications carriers, with 1998 consolidated operating revenues of EUR 24.6 billion and operations in more than 50 countries. France Telecom provides businesses, consumers and other carriers with a complete portfolio of solutions that spans local, long-distance and international telephony, data, wireless, multimedia, Internet, cable TV, broadcast and value-added services. France Telecom held an initial public offering in October 1997 and is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges. For more information, visit France Telecom on Internet: francetelecom.fr Contacts Alcatel For full Alcatel Geneva Telecom press list, consult : alcatel.com Alcatel Telecom Geneva : Press Office : Tel : + 41 22 746 5507/08 Olivier Le Friec : Tel : + 33 (0)6 08 40 94 43 Willem Zevenbergen : Tel : + 33 (0)6 07 86 76 04 Alcatel Press Office (Paris) Tel : + 33 (0)1 40 76 12 98 Investor Relations Claire Pedini Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 93 Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 30 Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr Emmanuel Spite Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 16 04 Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr SOURCE Alcatel -0- 10/13/1999 /CONTACT: Alcatel Telecom Geneva: Press Office: +41-22-746-5507 or +41-22-746-5508; or Olivier Le Friec, +33-6-08-40-94-43, or Willem Zevenbergen, +33-6-07-86-76-04; or Alcatel Press Office -- Paris, +33-1-40-76-12-98; or Investor Relations -- Claire Pedini, +33-1-40-76-13-93, or Claire.pedini@alcatel.fr, or Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, +33-1-40-76-13-30, or Charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr, or Emmanuel Spite, +33-1-40-76-16-04, or Emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr, all of Alcatel/ /Web site: francetelecom.fr alcatel.fr