Alcatel's Niel Ransom Appointed to FCC Advisory Council.

Business Editors

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 14, 2001

Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA)(NYSE: ALA) today announced that Dr. Niel Ransom, chief technology officer, Alcatel USA, has been appointed to the Federal Communications Commission's Technological Advisory Council (TAC) (http://www.fcc.gov/oet/tac/).

TAC provides technical advice to the FCC and makes recommendations on the issues and questions presented to it by the FCC. TAC also helps provide technological insights that the Commission needs to stay abreast of innovations in communications and related industries.

"It is crucial for the FCC to have access to expert analyses on emerging technologies shaping the telecommunications industry as it carries out its regulatory responsibilities," said Ransom. "I am honored to have been selected to serve with such an esteemed group of technology leaders supporting the FCC in this way."

Dr. Ransom will offer a technology tutorial for the benefit of all FCC Commissioners, their staffs, and the public on June 15, 2001 at the FCC. Dr. Ransom's presentation will cover next generation networks based on voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), including soft switches, media gateways, media servers, VoIP standardization status, and market drivers of VoIP technologies. The tutorial will be open to the general public via webcast at www.fcc.gov.

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 130,000 employees and sales of EURO 31 billion in 2000, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com