Poland’s Netia selects Alcatel-Lucent to build 10 Gigabit Metro Ethernet network

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that its IP solutions have been selected by Netia, Poland’s largest alternative fixed telecommunications provider, as the basis for the country-wide deployment of its next-generation 10G Metro Ethernet networks. The Alcatel-Lucent solution provides a single unified infrastructure upon which Netia can offer highly reliable business services such as Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS) and IP VPNs, and also will form the base for all future services including triple play.

Netia chose to replace its existing equipment with the Alcatel-Lucent Metro Ethernet solution, which supports multiple service types with superior scale, hierarchical quality of service and availability – all critical for guaranteeing stringent Service Level Agreements (SLAs) on business-critical data. The Alcatel-Lucent solution will also accommodate triple play services allowing Netia to offer the next wave of advanced services with minimal further investment.

“Poland has one of the fastest growing broadband markets in Central-Eastern Europe and that requires us to aggressively expand our services to meet customer demand,” said Jolanta Ciesielska, Netia spokesperson. “Alcatel-Lucent offers excellent technology and proven performance giving us a solid base to grow our business with services that are a cut above those of our competitors. It also will be the infrastructure for future advanced broadband services.”

“As broadband penetration is still low in Poland compared to other European Union countries, the opportunity is huge for services providers who are willing to invest in a converged IP/MPLS network and offer advanced Ethernet services,” said Basil Alwan, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s IP activities. “Netia has replaced its legacy gear with a solution that gives them the freedom of introducing services quickly, simply and in line with market demand.”

Alcatel-Lucent will deploy its industry-leading Metro Ethernet portfolio in various locations across Poland over the next three years. The Alcatel-Lucent solution consists of the 7750 Service Router, 7450 Ethernet Service Switch, 7250 Service Access Switch and the 5620 Service Aware Manager.

Worldwide, more than 160 service providers in 60 countries, including AT&T, BT, Telia Sonera, Telefonica and France Telecom, have selected the Alcatel-Lucent IP portfolio.

About Netia SA

Netia is the leading alternative fixed-line telecommunications operator in Poland. It operates on the basis of its own, state-of-the-art fiber-optic backbone network that connects the largest Polish cities as well as its local access networks. Netia provides a broad range of telecommunications services, including voice, data and network wholesale services. P4 – the mobile telephony venture of Netia - creates an opportunity for Netia to extend further its range of products on offer by providing mobile telephony and convergent services. To provide high quality voice and data services Netia builds its access network based on WiMax technology and using 3.6 – 3.8 GHz frequency. International and Polish finance funds are the biggest Netia’s shareholders. Netia’s shares are listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

About Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved adjusted proforma revenues of Euro 18.3 billion in 2006 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. [All figures exclude impact of activities to be transferred to Thales]. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

Source: webwire.com