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Alcatel Awarded Network Transformation Project By BellSouth PARIS, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alcatel (NYSE: ALA; PARIS: CGEP.PA) today announced that it has been selected by BellSouth (NYSE:BLS) as the preferred supplier of IP DSLAMs over the next three years as part of BellSouth's network transformation initiative. The agreement extends Alcatel's existing strategic supplier relationship with BellSouth and identifies Alcatel as the preferred supplier of DSLAMs for BellSouth's network transformation initiative that enables the delivery of triple play services to customers in their coverage area including potential future IP Video services that BellSouth is currently testing. Specifically, Alcatel will provide the IP DSLAM products that will enable BellSouth to upgrade their existing infrastructure to handle the demands of next generation broadband services. "We are thrilled to extend our relationship with BellSouth into this very important network transformation project," said Mike Quigley, president, Alcatel North America. "Our expertise not only in the access network, but also in enabling the delivery of next generation IP services such as voice and video, will allow us to help BellSouth continue to revolutionize the consumer communications experience." "This extends our relationship with Alcatel, which has served both companies well as we've brought DSL services to more than 75 percent of our customers," said Bill Smith, chief technology officer, BellSouth. "Alcatel will provide BellSouth with two products from its Intelligent Services Access Manager (ISAM) family. The 7330 and 7302 products will enable BellSouth to test advances in bonded ADSL2+ technologies to provide customers with triple play services at rates up to 24 Mbps per household over its network." Alcatel is the world's leading supplier of broadband access solutions, with more than 50 million lines of DSL shipped. About BellSouth Corporation BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and a parent company of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice and data provider. Backed by award winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth Answers(R), residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial up and high speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R) Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers online and directory advertising through BellSouth(R) RealPages.com(R) and The Real Yellow Pages(R). More information about BellSouth can be found at http://www.bellsouth.com/ . About Alcatel Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 12.5 billion in 2003, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com/ . http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031111/ALALOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Alcatel CONTACT: press, Aurelie Boutin, +33-0-1-40-76-11-79, or , or Mark Burnworth, +33-0-1-40-76-50-84, or , or Charlie Guyer, +1-978-257-3490, or , or investor relations, Pascal Bantegnie, +33-0-1-40-76-52-20, or , or Peter Campbell, +33-0-1-40-76-13-11, or , or Nicolas Leyssieux, +33-0-1-40-76-37-32, or , or Maria Alcon, +33-0-1-40-76-15-17, or , or Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, +1-703-668-3571, or , all of Alcatel Web site: http://www.alcatel.com/ http://www.bellsouth.com/

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