Alcatel Launches Industry's First Truly Global Service Program; 'all-in-One Alcatel Service' Equals Unified, Simplified Alcatel Service Worldwide.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 1997--Alcatel Data Networks introduced today "all-in-One Alcatel Service," a global service program that unifies and enhances Alcatel's world-class support to enterprises and carriers.

"all-in-One" leverages Alcatel's direct worldwide presence in over 130 countries to provide the communications industry's only standard portfolio of services globally. The program simplifies service agreements for today's complex networking environments.

"'all-in-One Alcatel Service' symbolizes Alcatel's commitment to forming long-lasting partnerships with our customers as well as our dedication to supporting their mission-critical infrastructures," said Jean-Luc Abaziou, president and C.O.O. of Alcatel Data Networks. "A total communications solution requires not only high-performance, high-speed products, but also efficient, state-of-the-art support services backed by years of experience operating massive global networks. With "all-in-One," Alcatel provides the world's most extensive range of service for voice, data and image communication systems in one portfolio."

"Alcatel has surpassed what most providers deliver in terms of global service," said Ellen Carney, director and principal analyst for Dataquest's network integration and support services program. "'all-in-One' provides not only feet on the street but also delivers worldwide pricing, contract terms and conditions, and a tightly integrated global technology service delivery infrastructure. Aside from a compelling menu of services, its service architecture makes it easy for the multinational enterprise to do business with Alcatel."

The key benefits to "all-in-One" are simplicity and consistency. "all-in-One" customers call only one telephone number to access the Alcatel Customer Call Center for any request and are guaranteed rapid telephone response around-the-clock, 365 days a year, in any country. Alcatel uses only state-of-the-art maintainability and call handling tools to exceed customer expectations with this streamlined, easy-to-understand service portfolio. Additionally, customers also benefit from central negotiation of "all-in-One's" worldwide standard terms and conditions. A customer purchases service from one account executive who can commit globally. This is especially beneficial to multinational customers, who can work with one point of contact to establish a support program for all sites and are guaranteed the same high-quality Alcatel service throughout the world.

The "all-in-One" global service portfolio offers Alcatel's enterprise and carrier customers 31 individual service products, of which 21 are available today in North America. The cost-effective, modular nature of "all-in-One" allows customers to choose a tailored service solution, from single-location support to multinational provision of several different services. Bronze, Silver, and Gold packages offer different levels of services, coverage, and response times for support products such as technical assistance, remote diagnostics, software and hardware support, and repair/replacement. Due to this flexible format, new services can easily be added to the "all-in-One" portfolio to meet changing customer needs.

In North America, Alcatel Data Networks has contracted with Data General, a leading, worldwide provider of comprehensive Information Technology (IT) services, to implement "all-in-One" support for its Avanza multiservice networking product portfolio. Data General's network of engineers will provide on-site services, including installation, support, and spares logistics handling.

"Teaming with Data General gives us the ability to leverage the customer support expertise of all of the firm's highly skilled technicians in more than 200 North American field offices," said Bruce Hurwitz, vice president of global operations at Alcatel Data Networks. "This will allow Alcatel Data Networks customers to maximize the availability of their mission-critical networks by delivering rapid, first-class support."

Alcatel Data Networks' "all-in-One" supports Avanza, the world's most comprehensive multiservice networking architecture, comprised of a broad range of best-of-breed networking products. It offers an end-to-end broadband solution for core, edge, and campus networks, all controlled from a common network management platform, the Alcatel 1100 Network Management System (NMS). The Alcatel 1100 HSS, the cornerstone of Avanza, is the industry's only multiservice switch with independent Frame Relay and ATM switching and support for IP traffic, offering unparalleled broadband networking options. The Alcatel 1100 HSS scales from 10 Gbps to 160 Gbps using the same technology, allowing for rapid network-wide feature deployment and unmatched scalability. RateMaster, a patented, proactive traffic management and congestion control system, provides maximum trunk utilization and optimized network performance.

Alcatel Data Networks is a leading provider of data communications solutions for public and private networks throughout the world. The company, headquartered in Ashburn, Va., has built more than 400 major data networks worldwide, including 65 national carrier networks. Alcatel Data Networks is a joint venture company of Alcatel Alsthom, one of the world's largest manufacturers of communications equipment, and Sprint, the first all-digital network operator and provider of one of the world's largest Frame Relay network services. Alcatel Alsthom (ALA) and Sprint (FON) are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Company news and product information are available at Alcatel Data Networks' World Wide Web site: http://www.adn.alcatel.com . -0-

Note to Editors: HSS, RateMaster and Avanza are registered trademarks of Alcatel Data Networks. all-in-One is a trademark of Alcatel.

CONTACT: Alcatel, Ashburn

Kristin Duskin-Gadd, 703/724-2824

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