Alcatel Takes Broadband Wireless Home Networking On The Road; Speed Touch Wireless Multiplies the Broadband Advantage.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2000

Alcatel(NYSE:ALA), the world leader in DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) solutions, is showcasing on three continents a revolutionary new wireless home networking solution that quickly and simply enables multiple PCs and other Internet appliances to share one broadband ADSL connection to the outside world. The Speed Touch(TM) Wireless system, which also allows on-premise PCs and terminals to network among themselves as a peer group, was recently exhibited at the Networld+Interop show in Atlanta and Expocomm Buenos Aires and will be featured in the Alcatel exhibit at PT Expocom in Beijing (Oct. 24-28). Many of Alcatel's DSL customers around the world are currently evaluating the innovative system.

Based on the recently finalized IEEE 802.11b high-speed wireless LAN standard, Speed Touch Wireless avoids the expense, complexity and inconvenience of running separate fixed Ethernet links between multiple PCs and an ADSL modem. Users can enjoy high-speed DSL access from almost anywhere within their home or business.

With the Alcatel Speed Touch Wireless solution, the modem acts as the central control point for the wireless network. All the user has to do is simply plug the power cord of the modem into a power supply and its telephone cord into a phone jack supporting ADSL service. The modem then communicates over-the-air with on-premise PCs and appliances that either already have built-in wireless networking capability or that have been equipped with a small wireless LAN client card.

Speed Touch Wireless provides up to 11 megabits per second of wireless network capacity and can cover an area of up to 30 000 square feet/3000 square meter. Unlike wired networks, Speed Touch Wireless supports both fixed and mobile terminals. Furthermore, it contains a built-in firewall for added security. Each Speed Touch Wireless modem is capable of supporting up to 64 remote devices.

Speed Touch Wireless can be self-installed by the end user or configured and demonstrated by a retailer, and requires no intervention on the part of an ADSL or Internet Service Provider.

"Multiple PC and Internet appliance ownership is growing rapidly in the residential and small office/home office markets," said Marc Hermans, Vice President of the DSL CPE group at Alcatel. "There are obvious benefits to sharing a high-speed Internet connection among multiple terminals as well as advantages to allowing multiple terminals to network and collaborate. Speed Touch Wireless is the logical, convenient and low cost way of networking on-premise terminals and sharing among them the huge bandwidth that ADSL makes possible."

Note for Editors

1. ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) transforms an operator's existing copper twisted pair investment into a multimedia broadband distribution system. Always online and fast, ADSL provides easy and quick Internet access via a simple mouse-click. Working on an existing copper telephone line, ADSL's transmission speed is up to 200 times faster than today's analog modems. ADSL's speeds range up to 8 megabits per second. ADSL supports high-speed data communications as well as traditional telephone service on a single telephone access line.

2. Speed Touch Wireless is a new low-cost broadband home wireless network that connects multiple on-premise terminals to a high speed ADSL modem. It also networks terminals and Internet appliances together. Speed Touch Wireless provides a capacity of up to 11 megabits per second and operates over an area of up to 30 000 square feet/3000 square meter. It is based on the IEEE 802.11b standard, initially developed for professional wireless LAN applications, and subsequently used by the leading players in the telecommunications, PC and consumer electronics industries to bring low-cost wireless connectivity to the consumer market.

About Alcatel DSL

Alcatel is the world's leading supplier of DSL solutions, helping service providers everywhere deploy an expanded range of revenue producing offerings and applications such as high speed Internet access, voice over DSL, and video services. Alcatel's DSL solutions are available on a variety of service platforms, including the Alcatel 7300 and 7350 ASAM; the Litespan NGDLC; and environmentally hardened DSLAM packages optimized for remote terminal deployment, the Alcatel RAM (Remote Access Multiplexer) and mini-RAM. This complete set of deployment options gives service providers the flexibility to bring DSL service to all potential subscribers in their service areas, regardless of network topology. A unified element management solution, AMS (Access Management System), manages voice and data services for the Litespan and the ASAM product family. The Alcatel 46020 Network Manager, an integrated scalable network management solution, seamlessly manages these products at the network and service layers. Alcatel's DSL technology is also offered in an advanced range of customer premises equipment, the Alcatel Speed Touch family of DSL modems, routers, and integrated access devices supporting multi-line voice and data service over a single telephone access line. For more information on Alcatel's DSL solutions, visit http://www.alcatel http://www.alcateldsl.com

About Alcatel

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 on the Internet: http://www.usa.alcatel.com (US site) http://www.alcatel.com (Corporate site)