AT&T selects Alcatel-Lucent as LTE equipment supplier

February 10, 2010 — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that AT&T (NYSE: T) has selected Alcatel-Lucent as one of two equipment suppliers for its planned deployment of

February 10, 2010 — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that AT&T (NYSE: T) has selected Alcatel-Lucent as one of two equipment suppliers for its planned deployment of LTE mobile broadband technology. Supplier selection paves the way for planned field trials of LTE technology later this year with commercial deployment scheduled to begin in 2011.

Additionally, AT&T has designated Alcatel-Lucent one of two suppliers for its new Radio Access Network Domain. The multi-year agreement covers radio access network equipment needed to deliver LTE service. Financial terms are not being disclosed.  

Alcatel-Lucent currently provides equipment for the existing AT&T 3G network. Under the agreement, 3G equipment delivered to AT&T starting this year can evolve easily and seamlessly to LTE, enabling AT&T to upgrade existing equipment and software minimizing the need to install new equipment as it deploys next-generation technology.

“This announcement is an important step forward in our ongoing mobile broadband strategy, which is focused on delivering the best possible combination of speed, performance and available devices for customers at every level of technology deployment,” said John Stankey, president and CEO, AT&T Operations. “AT&T has a key advantage in that LTE is an evolution of the existing GSM family of technologies that powers our network and the vast majority of the world’s global infrastructure today. As some competitors move away from their existing investment in niche 3G platforms, we are able to efficiently and quickly move toward LTE while enhancing our existing 3G performance and providing access to a strong ecosystem of customer devices.”

“This is a critical step forward in AT&T’s ongoing mobile broadband strategy to deliver and support the next generation of mobile applications. We look forward to being a part of the journey and see this as a starting point for further collaboration with AT&T to deliver an end-to-end IP solution for mobile broadband,” said Alcatel-Lucent CEO Ben Verwaayen. “This announcement expands on our long standing relationship with AT&T – one that covers everything from 3G HSPA infrastructure to network monitoring and management – and speaks volumes about the confidence and trust they have in our leadership in LTE technology and our ability to deliver a smooth, end-to-end migration path to LTE.”

Alcatel-Lucent is providing its industry-leading LTE base stations (eNodeBs) – key elements of the company’s Converged RAN portfolio, as well as Element Management Systems (EMS) and engineering and installation services. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent is providing its 9900 Wireless Network Guardian, which provides critical network visibility needed to manage the effects that IP-based applications will have on wireless networks.

Field testing will include stationary and drive tests with multiple users in a variety of field conditions, including handovers and in-building testing on a dual band network using AWS and 700 MHz spectrum, as well as HSPA bandwidth.