Paris, July 2, 2002 – Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) announces that it has been chosen by Brasil Telecom S.A. (BOV: BRTO3 / BRTO4; NYSE: BTM) for the enlargement and evolution of its Intelligent Network platform. The frame agreement, worth US$ 65 million, foresees the supply of equipment, software and services as well as the platform management tools. Implementation will be done within two years.
Alcatel’s Intelligent Network platform currently installed at Brasil Telecom will evolve to version 2.3, making it the most modern in the Brazilian market today. With this product, Brasil Telecom will be able to offer its clients a complete portfolio of services, such as 0800, 0300, 0500, 0900, voice VPNs, fixed prepaid, prepaid telephone card, and telephone credit card, as well as Internet Call Waiting, which allows users to surf the web while simultaneously receiving telephone calls. In order to guarantee an easy access to users, the existing Service Switching Point (SSP) will be enlarged and new points will be installed. SSP uses the high performance and high capacity of the Alcatel 1000 switching technology.
“The value added services offered by Intelligent Networks are essential for the telecom operators’ success in the highly competitive market that the next few months promises. Such services are absolutely necessary to generate revenue, and also enable us to reduce defaults thanks to prepaid services”, said Yon Moreira da Silva, Brasil Telecom’s vice president. “We've been very pleased with our long partnership with Alcatel, with whom we have been developing Intelligent Network services for many years”, he added.
Ludo Gys, vice president Product Marketing of Alcatel Network Applications, said: “With this contract, Alcatel reaffirms its position as the only supplier and Intelligent Network technology holder at Brasil Telecom, operating the most modern platform in Brazil. Evolution to version 2.3 is also a technological reference that will allow Brasil Telecom to introduce NGN’s world related services. “
Alcatel is currently a world leader in intelligent networks, with 119 platforms operating in more than 60 countries.
About Brasil Telecom
Brasil Telecom S.A. provides local, intra-regional long distance, network, data communication and other value-added services to the states of Acre, Rondonia, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Tocantins, Goias, Santa Catarina, Parana, and Rio Grande do Sul, as well as the Federal District. This operating area covers 23% of the population (over 40 million people), 25% of the Brazilian GDP (approximately R$276 billion in 2001) and 33% of the nation's territory (nearly 2.8 million km2).
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, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com.