Tata Teleservices Selects Alcatel to Deliver New Broadband Services in India; First Contract With a Private Service Provider in India for Packet-based Solutions

Business Wire, July 23, 2002

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 2002

Alcatel (NYSE:ALA) announced that it has signed a contract with Tata Teleservices, a nationwide private fixed service provider, to provide voice, data and multimedia services in India.

The deal, worth 15 million Euro over a period of three years, will enable Tata Teleservices to be the first vendor to offer multimedia packet-based services in the country.

Tata Teleservices broadband capabilities will be based on the Alcatel 1000 MM high capacity switching system as well as the Alcatel 7300 ASAM (Advanced Services Access Manager), the world's most widely deployed broadband access platform. Alcatel's solutions will enable the service provider to smoothly migrate its networks towards next generation networks and offer residential and business services such as music download, streaming video and high-speed Internet access.

"We have chosen Alcatel because of their technological excellence in switching and DSL markets. By implementing these solutions, we expect to get the first-mover advantage in terms of technology within the country. This could enable us to service our customers with high-quality voice, data and multimedia services on proven wireline technology," said M. Ramakrishnan, managing director, Tata Teleservices Limited.

"Alcatel has created yet another landmark in the Indian market by introducing and deploying new broadband solutions. This deployment showcases our broadband access solutions leadership and our ability in helping our customer delivering high-quality multimedia services," said Gerard Dega, Alcatel's president for France, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Indian sub-continent, and Africa.

Active in India for more than two decades, Alcatel is a leading provider of end-to-end telecommunications and Internet based solutions to its customers in the government as well as private sector.

About Tata Teleservices

Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) is a basic telecom service provider promoted by the Tata Industries limited. Presently operating out of Andhra Pradesh in India, it will soon be launching its range of products and services across five other circles, namely, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, New Delhi and Maharashtra (including Goa). The company's product portfolio spans voice and data products and services. In Andhra Pradesh where it is presently operational, the company has a network that includes an Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) backbone network stretching over 2000 kms. and investments of USD 416 million with a customer base of more than 170,000. TTSL plans to invest more than USD 1700 million (Rs 8500 crores), across the new circles with a network supported on OFC backbone, and other advanced support IT facilities.

About Alcatel

Alcatel designs, develops and builds innovative and competitive communications networks, enabling carriers, service providers and enterprises to deliver any type of content, such as voice, data and multimedia, to any type of consumer, anywhere in the world. Relying on its leading and comprehensive products and solutions portfolio, stretching from end-to-end optical infrastructures, fixed and mobile networks to broadband access, Alcatel's customers can focus on optimizing their service offerings and revenue streams. With sales of Euro 25 billion in 2001 and 99,000 employees, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, http://www.alcatel.com.