Alestra Selects Lucent's Advanced Optical System for Dramatic Expansion of Long Distance Network Capacity.

MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 1998--Alestra, a leading provider of long distance services in the Mexican market, today announced that it selected Lucent Technologies to supply an advanced optical networking system to substantially increase the capacity of Alestra's network. The expansion would position Alestra as one of the first companies among Mexico's new long distance service providers to undertake a dramatic expansion of its existing capacity.

Alestra is currently providing long distance services to almost one million lines. This represents several million minutes of both domestic and international long distance calling every day.

"Our clients require us to provide the highest quality and most reliable service for their voice, data and video transmission requirements," said Alejandro Rodriguez, sales vice president of Alestra. "That it is why we are contracting Lucent to supply and install this cutting edge technology."

This will be among the first land-based Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) systems to be deployed anywhere in Latin America. The contract calls for the installation of Lucent's WaveStar(tm) OLS 80G system. Using DWDM technology, the system provides higher capacity per fiber over longer distances than previously possible.

The OLS 80G is a high-capacity DWDM system that combines 16 wavelengths, or channels, on one fiber each with 2.5 gigabit-per-second capacity. With a total capacity of 40 gigabits in both directions in one fiber, it is possible to conduct 500,000 telephone calls simultaneously -- or transmit the equivalent of 320,000 pages of typewritten text per second.

"We're delighted to have the opportunity to work with Alestra in expanding the capacity of its network and service offerings in this increasingly sophisticated market," said Rogelio Velasco, managing director for Lucent Technologies in Mexico. "This contract signals Lucent's commitment to bring the latest technology to the Mexican market and support our growing customer base."

Carriers can realize significant cost benefits with Lucent's DWDM systems through increased capacity and the capability of optical amplifiers to boost the different wavelengths simultaneously. This presents a major advantage over the conventional transmission technique of carrying individual channels on individual fibers.

Lucent's WaveStar OLS 80G purchased by Alestra will be deployed in the existing 4,100 km ring topology that connects 20 cities. These include Mexico's three largest cities of Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara, as well as the U.S. border crossing in Nuevo Laredo.

The system includes features such as performance monitoring, error localization and proactive maintenance functions. Another special feature is the system's convenient and error-free ease of upgrade (even during operation) from one to 16 wavelengths, with automatic power adjustment of the individual optical amplifiers.

Alestra is the Mexican telecommunications company resulting from the joint venture of ALFA, Bancomer and AT&T that operates a national network using the most advanced technology. Alestra delivers to the Mexican consumer the AT&T standards of quality and reliability as well as seamless access to the AT&T global network that operates in 280 countries carrying more than 250 million voice and data messages worldwide every day.

Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hills, N.J., designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public and private networks, communications systems and software, data networking solutions, business telephone systems and microelectronics. Bell Laboratories is Lucent's research and development arm. More information about Lucent Technologies is available on the company's website at http://www.lucent.com.

   CONTACT: Alestra, Mexico City
             Jorge Escribano -- Mexico
             [phone] (office)
             [e-mail]
                      or
             Lucent Technologies:
             Fernando Figueredo - Caribbean and Latin America region
             305-569-3747 (office)
             [e-mail]
                      or
             Marco Malfavon - Mexico
             [phone] (office)
             [e-mail]