U.S. Army Selects Lucent Technologies to Upgrade and Modernize Optical Network and Provide Professional Services at Fort Drum.

MURRAY HILL, N.J. -- Lucent Technologies today announced a one-year firm fixed price $4.6 million contract with the United States Department of the Army to provide optical networking systems and professional services to upgrade military communications systems at Fort Drum. The new agreement is part of the Army's Installation Information Infrastructure Modernization Program (I3MP) aimed at upgrading and modernizing the voice and data infrastructure at Army bases worldwide.

I3MP is being implemented Army-wide by Project Manager, Defense Communications and Army Switched Systems (PM DCASS), and the Program Executive Office, Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS).

The Lucent optical network solution will provide Fort Drum with increased bandwidth, as well as upgrades that will enhance the network's flexibility, reliability and security. The solution also enables data to be moved more quickly in a cost-effective manner and provide seamless transition of systems, databases and hardware. In addition, Lucent Worldwide Services will supply a wide range of professional services including engineering, network integration, testing, and program management.

"Lucent has a long successful track record serving United States Department of Defense agencies. In fact, we designed, engineered, deployed, installed, tested and supported Fort Drum's current network, " said Rick Miller, senior vice president for Government Solutions at Lucent Technologies. "We clearly understand the unique, complex mission-critical needs and requirements of today's military. Our leading-edge optical solution will help Fort Drum transition quickly to a next-generation network essential for personnel in the field."

"This exciting win with Fort Drum clearly strengthens Lucent's position as a major network integrator delivering next-generation solutions and services that support the Army's vision a converged network for its installations worldwide," said Dan Bigbie, vice president of Government Services for Lucent Worldwide Services. "Fort Drum is utilizing the experience and expertise of Lucent Worldwide Services to increase the security and reliability of its network."

Lucent will provide the Army with the Metropolis(R) DMX Access Multiplexer and the new Metropolis(R) Wavelength Services Manager (WSM). The cost-effective solution will move the existing optical network from a point-to-point based infrastructure to an even more secure and reliable multi-point structure, be it ring, mesh, hub or other configuration. As the government needs to expand its communications requirements, the solution is also easily upgradeable, saving costs.

Lucent and its predecessor has had a team dedicated to working with the Army as part of the I3MP project for more than 11 years. In 2003, Lucent announced contracts worth $50 million to provide network integration and professional services for Army installations in North America and Asia.

About the solution:

With thousands of units already deployed, the Metropolis(R) DMX portfolio is being used by more than 100 customers worldwide to address the challenge they face in their metropolitan networks. The Metropolis(R) DMX Access Multiplexer provides next-generation SONET functionality and serves as an integrated Ethernet over SONET metro platform.

The Metropolis(R) Wavelength Services Manager (WSM) is a new metro dense wavelength division (DWDM) product from Lucent that will help customers meet their wavelength needs in the metro access, interoffice and regional application spaces. This marks the first time this product has been deployed with a U.S. government customer. It will help the government deliver wavelength services and increase the capacity of its infrastructure. The modular and flexible architecture of the product reduces costs and complexity through a common optical platform using DWDM and coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) technologies. For more information on Lucent's metro optical products: http://www.lucent.com/solutions/metro_optical.html.

Lucent Worldwide Services is one of the industry's most experienced network services organizations. With more than 10,000 technicians, network engineers and consultants, Lucent Worldwide Services serves the largest service providers, enterprises and government institutions in 49 countries and five continents. Lucent Worldwide Services supports more than 500 products from 120 different vendors.

About Lucent Technologies

Lucent Technologies designs and delivers the systems, services and software that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent uses its strengths in mobility, optical, software, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for its customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Lucent's customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. For more information on Lucent Technologies, which has headquarters in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, visit www.lucent.com.