Alcatel 3G Works in Malaysia

PARIS and KUALA LUMPUR -- Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE:ALA) announced today that it has conducted the first voice, data and video communications on the end-to-end UMTS trial system installed in Kuala Lumpur by Alcatel. For the very first time in Malaysia, a UMTS infrastructure network carries not only voice communications in circuit mode but also allows the transfer of data and high-speed video images in packet mode, in full compliance with W-CDMA 3GPP standards. These calls were demonstrated to the media in Kuala Lumpur today. Numerous tests have confirmed the Alcatel Evolium(TM) UMTS infrastructure's quality in the area of high-speed data and video transfers. Whether for videophony calls between two 3G handsets, surfing the Internet (Web Browsing), having on-line access to information, images or videos (Video Streaming and Downloading), or for transmitting video images from a remote Webcam. The Alcatel 3G/UMTS pilot network provides data rates of up to 384 kbit/s. Alcatel installed in Kuala Lumpur its complete Evolium(TM) solution including the UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) radio systems, the Core network; as well as the associated Radio Network Controller (RNC) and a dedicated Application Service platform. The radio systems, which include the UMTS base stations (Node B) are developed and produced by Evoium SAS, the joint venture between Alcatel and Fujitsu. "In 2000, Alcatel provided Malaysia with the first end-to-end GPRS solution. Today, we are proud to bring the real 3G age to Malaysia by conducting the first mobile multimedia call here,'' said John Quaeyhaegens, Country Senior Officer of Alcatel Malaysia. ''3G offers great potential for end-users because of the high bandwidths available for wireless multimedia applications in addition to voice calls. Today's call proves that Alcatel is the only vendor to have 3G networks already operational, which can support the full range of 3G applications." Alcatel SA