PARIS, January 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) announces the signing of a turnkey contract with French Polynesian operator Office des Postes & Telecommunications (OPT). According to this agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will roll out a new, high-speed submarine cable network linking Tahiti in French Polynesia to Hawaii in the U.S, as well as providing domestic connectivity.

This new submarine network, with a value of 72.2 M Euros, has been called 'Honotua' (a Tahitian name meaning the link towards the open sea) and it will greatly increase French Polynesia's local and international connectivity.

Accordingly, OPT will be able to respond at more affordable costs, to the growing demand for broadband services of its business and residential users. By providing the first submarine connection in French Polynesia, this network will also help reduce the digital divide in the Pacific region.

Delivering an ultimate capacity of 32 x10 Gbit/s, the 'Honotua' network will be composed of an international link between Tahiti and Hawaii (4,650 km) and a domestic connection (305 km) linking some of the islands in the French Polynesian archipelago. With completion scheduled in 2010, the 'Honotua' submarine cable network will ease the availability and accessibility to high quality, innovative broadband applications such as telemedicine, e-learning and on-line tourism programs.

"This is a fundamental endeavor for French Polynesia aiming to fuel economic and social viability for our community" points out M. Jacqui Drollet, Minister of Culture, Post & Telecommunications in French Polynesia. "The new broadband services and business-driven applications this network will make available will allow us to improve the quality of life for our citizens."

"The adoption rates of data services are growing fast, as well as end-users' needs for bandwidth, reliability and service delivery speeds," emphasizes Jean-Paul Barral, OPT's Chairman of the Board. "With its recognized experience, Alcatel-Lucent is a trusted technology partner as we take a new step in our communication capabilities to meet these new service demands reliably and at affordable costs."

"This contract confirms Alcatel-Lucent's commitment to helping customers like OPT bridge the digital divide and spur sustainable growth", says Etienne Lafougere, President of Alcatel-Lucent's submarine network activity. "Our solutions give access to advanced technologies for delivering high added-value broadband services and applications that stimulate socio-economic development."

This new contract further strengthens the long-lasting cooperation between Alcatel-Lucent and OPT that already deploys Alcatel-Lucent's wireless and access solutions to extend service reach in less dense and remote rural areas of the archipelago.

About the Alcatel-Lucent solution

The Alcatel-Lucent submarine solution will be based on its 1620 Light Manager next-generation DWDM submarine platform, and will also include cable and submarine repeaters, providing direct connectivity to landing stations. A comprehensive suite of professional services, including permitting and project management, engineering, marine operation, installation, testing and commissioning, is part of this turnkey project.

About OPT

OPT is a public entity fully owned by the territory of French Polynesia. OPT's main duty is to provide comprehensive telephony services and is committed to improve access to all forms of information all over French Polynesia, including remote islands. Its 81 postal offices are able to deliver postal and simple banking services as well. OPT fully owns or controls entities such as Tikiphone for mobile GSM services, MANA for internet services, Tahiti Nui Satellite which operates 23 channels direct to home video services, Tahiti Nui Telecom for International Telephone traffic and finally, ISS as ITC in addition to providing advice, IT consultancies often implement, deploy, and administer IT systems.

About Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved adjusted proforma revenues of Euro 18.3 billion in 2006 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. [All figures exclude impact of activities transferred to Thales]. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/

Alcatel-Lucent Press Contacts: Regine Coqueran Tel: +33(0)1-40-76-49-24 regine.coqueran@alcatel-lucent.com Mark Burnworth Tel: +33(0)1-40-76-50-84 mark.burnworth@alcatel-lucent.com Alcatel-Lucent Investor Relations: Scott Ashby Tel: +33(0)1 40-76-29-90 scott.ashby@alcatel-lucent.com Maria Alcon Tel: +33(0)1-40-76-15-17 maria.alcon@alcatel-lucent.com John DeBono Tel: +1-908-582-7793 debono@alcatel-lucent.com Tony Lucido Tel: +33(0)1-40-76-49-80 alucido@alcatel-lucent.com Don Sweeney Tel: +1-908-582-6153 dsweeney@alcatel-lucent.com

CONTACT: Alcatel-Lucent Press Contacts: Regine Coqueran, Tel:
+33(0)1-40-76-49-24, regine.coqueran@alcatel-lucent.com, Mark Burnworth, Tel:
+33(0)1-40-76-50-84, mark.burnworth@alcatel-lucent.com; Alcatel-Lucent
Investor Relations: Scott Ashby, Tel: +33(0)1 40-76-29-90,
scott.ashby@alcatel-lucent.com, Maria Alcon, Tel: +33(0)1-40-76-15-17,
maria.alcon@alcatel-lucent.com, John DeBono, Tel: +1-908-582-7793,
debono@alcatel-lucent.com, Tony Lucido, Tel: + 33(0)1-40-76-49-80,
alucido@alcatel-lucent.com, Don Sweeney, Tel: +1-908-582-6153,
dsweeney@alcatel-lucent.com