Alcatel Telecom cross connect packs a punch for PCS operators -- perfect for mobile switching requirements.

RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 29, 1996--Alcatel Telecom's new narrowband digital cross connect -- the Alcatel 1630 SX (Release 5) -- meets the requirements of PCS (personal communications services) providers, who need to reduce operating costs by optimizing switch capacity, monitoring circuit performance, and minimizing facility floor space.

Alcatel will demonstrate its new cross connect and microwave radio solutions at the PCS industry show, Wireless World (booth No. 526), October 30 - November 1 in Orlando.

The Alcatel 1630 SX performs its magic in the PCS base station transceiver station hubs and switching centers. Alcatel's cross connect can help PCS operators save significant sums by minimizing housing costs, meaning the most efficient use of existing or planned facility floor space. The 1630 SX can cross connect over 25,000 voice circuits through only two bays; other manufacturers use up to 11 bays for the same amount of traffic.

Furthermore, PCS operators now can deploy the 1630 SX in a unique "one-bay" configuration that will cut their rack space requirements in half and still connect and monitor over 10,000 voice circuits. Alcatel has designed the system so that, once installed, an operator can easily "grow" to a larger system (4096 DS1s) without interrupting service. Each bay holds four input/output (I/O) shelves and each shelf has four quadrants. The 1630 SX can support any mixture of DS3, DS1 or subrate circuits in a quadrant, shelf or bay.

Although not a switch, the Alcatel 1630 SX saves 20 percent in switching costs immediately, and at least 20 percent in incremental switching costs. Because of its design based on the latest ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) chip technology, the 1630 SX optimizes port utilization loads on the mobile telephony switch. For example, in the case of current switch port utilization rates of 70 - 80 percent (current cellular industry average, although higher where Alcatel cross connects are deployed), the 1630 SX increases the utilization rate to over 90 percent. Therefore, the 1630 SX increases efficiency, and realizes a corresponding cost savings, of 20 to 25 percent.

The 1630 SX Release 5 ensures continuous near-end and far-end circuit performance monitoring as a standard feature, with no external or special equipment required. This feature means that customers receive high-quality wireless services as it enables PCS operators to correct network problems before they affect service. In addition, the 1630 SX reduces maintenance costs and improves service by virtue of a highly-redundant system architecture, as exemplified by a flexible bus design featuring dual CPUs, dual control busses and easy software upgrades. With the flexible bus architecture and redundant I/O ports, Alcatel eliminates single points of failure by offering equipment protection where other manufacturers do not.

Alcatel offers the only total network solution for the backbone requirements of today's PCS and other wireless industries with a combination of Alcatel's high-, medium-, and low-capacity radios and the Alcatel 1630 SX digital cross connect, part of Alcatel's complete cross connect family (1630 SX, 1631 SX and 1633 SX). Alcatel cross connects handle vital traffic routing and management tasks in hundreds of local, long-distance and cellular networks.

Alcatel Telecom activities in North America include the design, manufacture and service of a full line of voice, data, video and multimedia telecommunications products -- such as ATM switching systems, digital cross connects, fiber optic transmission systems, optical amplifiers, microwave radios, wireless communications switches, video codecs, and network management systems. The telecommunications and broadcast industries, private operators and corporations use these products to create high performance networks. The global operations of Alcatel Telecom make it one of the world's leading communications equipment manufacturers. Alcatel Telecom is part of the Alcatel Alsthom group, which maintains its headquarters in Paris. Alcatel Alsthom trades on the New York Stock Exchange as ALA.

CONTACT: Michael Newsom

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