MCI Selects Alcatel for Next-Generation Signaling Network; Alcatel's Signaling Server Helps Drive MCI's Convergence Strategy

PARIS, Nov. 9  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alcatel (NYSE: ALA; Paris: CGEP.PA) today announced that MCI, Inc. (NASDAQ:MCIP) is deploying Alcatel's next-generation signaling server to migrate the carrier's domestic and international SS7* signaling traffic to a packet-based solution. The deployment is an important step in MCI's network convergence strategy.

MCI is deploying Alcatel's equipment to carry both domestic and international traffic, allowing MCI's global customers to continue to receive today's full range of telephony services as well as enable them to migrate to next-generation IP services.

"MCI is converging to a common IP core network which will improve resiliency and network utilization," said Joe Cook, senior vice president, MCI Global Network Planning and Engineering.  "As today's applications drive larger bandwidth requirements, MCI's customers will be able to take advantage of the scalability Alcatel's packet-based signaling platform provides."

Supporting both signaling transfer points (STP) and voice-over-IP functionality, the carrier-class and standards-based Alcatel 5070 Signaling Server Global (SSG) will enable MCI to migrate the signaling for voice traffic to a packet-based environment.  Among the most widely deployed signaling servers and STPs in the industry, the Alcatel 5070 SSG receives, routes, and transmits signaling messages for call processing, wireless network services, and intelligent networking services.

"Alcatel is pleased to continue our strong relationship with MCI by providing our next-generation signaling solution," said Hubert de Pesquidoux, President of Alcatel in North America.  "MCI's deployment of Alcatel's signaling server illustrates the significant market momentum for next- generation networks and voice-over-IP applications as carriers gear up to offer the next wave of services."

The Alcatel 5070 SSG is a powerful, compact system combining traditional STP functionality with advanced routing, to support the expanding voice over IP and wireless markets.  The product provides increased levels of connectivity, capacity and expandability over previous products, making it a true next generation STP.  It is feature rich, with traditional SS7 features on a platform that also supports large-capacity services databases.  The Alcatel 5070 SSG is not only a great fit in a legacy circuit-based network, but also delivers the capacity and interfaces to support the signaling gateway requirements of voice-over-packet and 3G networks.

   *SS7 is a global standard for telecommunications specified by the
    International Telecommunication Union (ITU).  The standard defines the
    procedures and protocols by which network elements in the public
    switched telephone network (PSTN) exchange information over a digital
    signaling network in order to handle wireless (cellular) and wireline
    call setup, routing and control.  The ITU definition of SS7 allows for
    national variants such as the American National Standards Institute
    (ANSI) and Bell Communications Research (Telcordia Technologies)
    standards used in North America and the European Telecommunications
    Standards Institute (ETSI) standard used in Europe.

  About Alcatel


Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees.  Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks; applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world.  With sales of EURO 12.3 billion and 56,000 employees in 2004, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.  For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com/ 

DATASOURCE: Alcatel



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