Europe : Alcatel-Lucent announced that it is rolling out Bouygues Telecom’s 3G/HSPA network in four of Bouygues Telecom’s six operational regions in France. Alcatel-Lucent’s advanced wireless solutions will enable Bouygues Telecom to offer customers throughout most of France such sophisticated mobile commercial services as high-speed data and high-definition video-on-demand.

Under the framework of the five-year contract, Alcatel-Lucent is responsible for installation and deployment of UMTS/HSPA (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service/ High Speed Packet Access) solutions. The solution encompasses the Alcatel-Lucent Radio Access Network solution, management and associated installation services.

Bouygues Telecom is the third largest wireless operator in France with a nationwide GSM network, a UMTS license and more than 8 million subscribers. The 3G network being deployed by Alcatel-Lucent covers the West, South-West, North-East and Mediterranean regions.

“We want to provide our customers innovative mobile services that they can depend on and that will help them in their business and personal life,” saidSerge Goldstein-Desroches, Senior Vice President, Purchasing & Networks of Bouygues Telecom. “We trust in the support of a reliable partner like Alcatel-Lucent because of its experience in the 3G mobile broadband market and their ability to leverage the investment we have in our existing network to enable it to accommodate the demands of our customers for innovative, reliable and high-quality services.”

“This UMTS/HSPA deployment highlights the success of our acquisition of the 3G UMTS access activities of Nortel,” said Alain Ferrasse-Palé, Vice President France of Alcatel-Lucent. “Alcatel-Lucent is currently suppliying the three largest mobile operators in France with its 3G/HSPA solutions. This new reference consolidates our position as worldwide leader in the mobile broadband market and further confirms the value of Alcatel-Lucent's compelling technology and strategy to support its customers as they evolve their networks.”

This 3G/HSPA deployment reinforces the partnership between Bouygues Telecom and Alcatel-Lucent. Alcatel-Lucent already provides Bouygues Telecom with reliable and sophisticated mobile backhauling of existing GSM and UMTS packet-based mobile technologies. Bouygues Telecom’s decision to enhance its network with advanced traffic management, quality of service and future-proof scalability will enhance the company’s competitiveness and enable it to develop and offer new mobile services.

As a global leader in the development and deployment of third-generation (3G) networks, Alcatel-Lucent has deployed commercial 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS/HSPA) systems for more than 70 operators worldwide.

About Bouygues Telecom
Created in 1994, Bouygues Telecom has 8.9 million customers, including 6.5 million with contracts, and 7,400 employees. Its ambition is to become the "preferred brand of personal communication services" by further improving customer service.