Verizon Wireless Selects Alcatel-Lucent's Mobile Backhaul Solution For Nation's First 4G LTE Network

LAS VEGAS; PARIS; and BASKING RIDGE, NJ — From CTIA WIRELESS 2010® Verizon Wireless has selected Alcatel-Lucent’s (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) mobile backhaul solution, which transports voice and data traffic from wireless base stations to the broad network to support Verizon Wireless’ 3G network and prepare for its advanced 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. In 2009, Verizon Wireless selected Alcatel-Lucent as one of the providers of the LTE Radio Access Network (RAN) and Enhanced Packet Core (EPC) and parts of the IP Multi-Media Subsystem (IMS) network.

U.S. consumers are becoming increasingly vocal when their current wireless service providers don’t meet coverage, speed and bandwidth needs. To support planned growth over its existing 3G network, Verizon Wireless is using Alcatel-Lucent’s mobile backhaul solution to consolidate services over a single packet-based network, supporting current as well as future needs for the 4G LTE network.

Tony Melone, chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless, said, "Alcatel-Lucent has been a long-time partner because they get the job done. While being among the first on the globe to deploy LTE has its challenges, we know Alcatel-Lucent can rise to this challenge with backhaul solutions our customers demand.”

“Verizon Wireless was an early mover toward LTE by being the first service provider to announce plans to deploy a commercial network and clearly is setting the pace for the industry,” said Robert Vrij, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Americas Region. “By choosing a comprehensive mobile backhaul solution early in the development process — from the IP backbone through to the cell tower — Verizon Wireless is positively positioning itself to handle the data explosion and growing need for high-bandwidth applications and content that LTE will enable.”

Alcatel-Lucent offers a comprehensive mobile backhaul solution — from the IP backbone through to the cell tower. The Alcatel-Lucent solution includes the 7750 Service Router, 7705 Service Aggregation Router (SAR) and the 5620 Service Aware Manager. The Alcatel-Lucent portfolio of IP/MPLS products delivers a strong foundation on which a family of packet solutions for mobile networks is delivered. These solutions support reliable, scalable, future-proof, cost-efficient and fully-managed transport, allowing mobile operators to take full control of their networks and quickly enable the delivery of advanced, revenue-generating new services.

“To meet the growing demand for high-bandwidth applications and content, service providers need a next-generation all-IP multiservice infrastructure that grows with them,” said Vrij. “Converging both legacy and 3G services over a single flexible, resilient network enables Verizon Wireless the ability to support its growing needs today, and smoothly prepare for its further evolution to 4G LTE.”

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted partner of service providers, enterprises 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 16.98 billion in 2008 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.

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