DALLAS, May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alcatel (NYSE: ALA; Paris: CGEP.PA) today announced it has equipped the Hampton Roads (VA) Planning District Commission (HRPDC) with a new digital network solution to enhance interoperability among chief administrative officers and public safety first responders, including the Hampton Roads local police and fire departments as well as the United States Coast Guard. The federally-funded network will improve data transmission and quality of service, resulting in faster emergency response and increased public safety to the local communities. "This new network will provide the area of Hampton Roads with reliable interoperability among senior leadership and all of our public safety first responders," said Arthur L. Collins, executive director of HRPDC. "At a time when public safety and homeland security is top-of-mind, this network will help us ensure seamless and secure collaboration among key departments." Alcatel's public safety network solution features critical communications interoperability for land mobile radio, emergency broadcast and multi-agency collaboration, local area networking and advanced capabilities for voice, video and data applications, and Internet Protocol (IP) communications architecture for network reliability. Alcatel worked with business partner Zel Technologies, which served as the HRPDC's program management and project tracking team. "This versatile network illustrates the unmatched breadth of the Alcatel product portfolio and will enable Hampton Roads to improve emergency response and create efficiencies for first Senior Management and first responders," said Hubert de Pesquidoux, President for Alcatel activities in North America. "Along with recent initiatives in Vermont and the state of Washington, and now in Virginia, Alcatel continues to provide state and local agencies with comprehensive public safety communications solutions." 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 13.1 billion and 58,000 employees in 2005, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com/ DATASOURCE: Alcatel CONTACT: press, Tracy Dupree, NA, +1-818-878-4408, or , or Regine Coqueran, HQ, +33-0-1-40-76-49-24, or , or Stephane Lapeyrade, HQ, +33-0-1-40-76-12-74, or , or investor relations, Pascal Bantegnie, +33-0-1-40-76-52-20, or , or Nicolas Leyssieux, +33-0-1-40-76-37-32, or , or Maria Alcon, +33-0-1-40-76-15-17, or , or Charlotte Laurent- Ottomane, +1-703-668-3571, or , all of Alcatel Web site: http://www.alcatel.com/

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