Alcatel Part of Group in Successful Test of New SCTP; Will Let Communication Carriers Exchange Signaling Using Internet Technology and Implement New Services More Easily.

Business/Technology Editors

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 5, 2000

Alcatel (NYSE:ALA) was one of a core group of companies that participated in a successful test of Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), a new Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) protocol for signaling-quality reliable transport using Internet Protocol (IP).

The tests, held June 5 to 9 at Siemens laboratories in Munich, will contribute to the efforts of the IETF "Signaling Transport" (sigtran) Working Group, to define a new transport protocol for tomorrow's Internet.

SCTP will enable communication carriers to exchange signaling information of their telephone switching systems using Internet technology and implement new services such as IP telephony more easily. The new protocol is designed to add performance and reliability to IP that will support transport of signaling such as Signaling System 7 (SS7).

In addition to Alcatel, participants in the interoperability testing included 3Com, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, Nortel Networks, Performance Technologies (MicroLegend), Sun, Telcordia, Trillium, S-Link and Siemens. Results of the testing exceeded expectation, and all participants were able to support basic interconnection and data transport.

The tests enabled the participants to check their respective implementations for completeness and correctness. The test computers were connected to the "trial network" to try out the protocol under simulated Internet conditions. The computer included in this test network as an "Internet simulator" subjected the protocol to a stiff test in which it simulated faults and delays that would be found in a worldwide network.

Further information about the Sigtran Working Group is available at http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/sigtran-charter.html

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 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 23 billion in 1999, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel at http://www.alcatel.com or the U.S. Web site at www.usa.alcatel.com.