ENGINEERING

DALLAS, TX -- Alcatel (NYSE: ALA), the world leader in optical networking, today introduced a new 10-gigabit multimode GLight fiber with associated cable solutions and connectivity hardware that will increase data speeds for Local Area Networks (LANs) and Storage Area Networks. Compatible with 10-gigabit Ethernet transmission technology, the fiber is capable of delivering up to 10 Gbit/s over distances of up to 300 meters at frequencies of 850 nanometers, and potentially several kilometers at decreased speeds. This means that bandwidth-hungry environments, such as business complexes, corporations, government offices, hospitals and financial institutions, will be able to increase their data flows tenfold, both quickly and cost-effectively. By delivering more features and bandwidth, Alcatel's 10-gigabit GLight can enable LAN installers and managers to achieve from 25 percent to 40 percent savings, while assuring the efficient growth of their networks to satisfy future needs. The new 10-gigabit GLight fiber opens a whole new world of capabilities and applications for heavy data users, who need high-resolution, color graphics, enhanced video, high-speed data, and quality sound. In addition to making LANs more efficient, the enormous capacity of the 10-gigabit GLight fiber helps alleviate traffic bottlenecks close to the user, where the bottlenecks have limited the ability to exploit the speed and capacity of high-bandwidth optical networks. Drawing on its complete optical networking portfolio, Alcatel provides a full end-to-end package for campus and premises applications, which includes various types of cables, connectivity hardware, and product-specific technical support. By furnishing a comprehensive offering as a single knowledgeable source, Alcatel helps customers streamline the process of building and designing networks. To manufacture the 10-gigabit GLight fiber, Alcatel uses its unique, patented process called furnace chemical vapor deposition. This proprietary method guarantees superior geometry, uniformity, and purity of the fiber, optimizing it for high-speed transmission via a new generation of low-cost vertical-cavity surface-emitting (VCSEL) lasers. Moreover, the fiber is backward compatible to support protocols such as Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI and Fast Gigabit Ethernet, thus facilitating network upgrades. "We have taken a proven product, and progressively enhanced it in keeping with the needs of our customers, who were closely consulted during the development of GLight," said Jacques Blanc, president of Alcatel's optical fiber activities. "This fiber, along with the related cable and connectivity elements, provides customers with a complete, future-ready solution for campus applications." The introduction of 10-gigabit GLight rounds out Alcatel's advanced optical fiber offering, enabling customers to optimize total network performance at the lowest cost per available bit. Alcatel offers multimode fibers, singlemode fiber, the recently introduced Enhanced SMF and the advanced Non Zero-Dispersion Shifted Fibers, TeraLight Metro and TeraLight Ultra. These high-quality, high-performance products meet the diverse and evolving needs of networks. A wide variety of cable designs and connectivity solutions enables Alcatel to supply optical networks end-to-end in a variety of environments. For more information visit www.alcatel.com