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

To: Steve Fancy who wrote (2277)	8/22/2000 8:22:38 AM
From: Maple Leaf	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 3891

Tuesday August 22, 8:07 am Eastern Time Press Release FirstMark Communications Europe SA Selects Alcatel's Wireless PDH and SDH Technology -- This contract Follows a Significant Order for Alcatel's LMDS Solution in July 2000 -- STUTTGART, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2000-- Alcatel (NYSE:ALA - news; Paris:CGEP.PA) today announced it has won a contract valued at EURO 100 million from FirstMark Communications for the turnkey delivery of PDH/SDH microwave systems. The contract announced today for Alcatel's PDH/SDH microwave systems now enables FirstMark to connect LMDS base stations to the appropriate nationwide transmission network. Alcatel will be deploying its PDH/SDH technology for FirstMark throughout Europe over the next three years. Alcatel is supplying SDH and PDH microwave systems from the Optinex family for the link between the LMDS base stations and each country's nationwide fibre-optic network. Alcatel 9600 USY microwave systems can be supplied for the frequency range 6GHz to 38GHz and can therefore be used practically anywhere in metropolitan as well as rural areas. Alcatel 9600 systems enable the best possible utilisation of the frequency spectrum through 128 QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation). The Alcatel solution includes a powerful end-to-end network management system covering the operation of the network at all levels. Dr. Dieter Finke, senior vice president of FirstMark Communications Europe SA said: ``We selected Alcatel because of the high quality of the systems, its worldwide presence and its support for new high speed networks.'' ``I am pleased to support FirstMark Communications in the deployment of its European network,'' said Bruno Piacentini, Senior Vice President of Alcatel's Optics Group and President of the Wireless Transmission Division. ``By using these Alcatel competitive solutions, FirstMark Communication achieves the aim of fast, efficient communications, anytime, anywhere and creates new value for its customers,'' he added. Note to Editors In July 2000, Alcatel in France received an order for its LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution Service) solution for ``last mile'' access. This Alcatel LMDS solution enables FirstMark Communications to cost-effectively deliver high-speed Internet, ISDN and leased-line services to small and medium-sized businesses using a high frequency broadband wireless system. The comprehensive Alcatel LMDS solution is a multiservice broadband wireless network comprised of base station and customer premises equipment, and network and service management. A base station, consisting of digital modulation equipment with optional switching capabilities and point-to-multipoint transmitters and receivers, is the central location that collects all traffic to and from customers within a given wireless coverage area. It is also the linking point between the customer and the network backbone. Customer premises equipment includes Radio Termination (RT) transceivers and Network Termination (NT) units, which support a full range of services. The network and service management suite supports complete end to end management of both the wireless and wireline portions of the customers network, providing a full range of billing, statistics and maintenance support. About FirstMark Communications FirstMark Communications is building the largest and most pervasive end-to-end broadband Internet network infrastructure throughout Europe, connecting 170 cities in 18 countries. Today, FirstMark operates a nationwide high-speed optical fibre network in Germany that extends more than 3,500 kilometres, connecting 23 cities. A leading provider of Broadband Internet Services in Europe, FirstMark will offer a full suite of communications, hosting and applications services for commercial businesses and Internet solution providers. The company currently has operations and business development activities in twelve major European countries including Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, and Finland. FirstMark is based in Luxembourg. About Alcatel Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 23 billion in 1999, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: alcatel.com