Alcatel-Lucent reinforces WiMAX Open CPE Program

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Initiatives highlight the readiness of the WiMAX ecosystem to address growing customer demand worldwide
Paris, September 26, 2007 – At the 2007 WiMAX World USA Conference & Exposition today, Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) announced the enhancement of its Open Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) Program, established to ensure that WiMAX operators have access to a wide variety of terminal devices, with the expansion of its relationships with two key players in the WiMAX CPE market, Intel and Kyocera Wireless.
Alcatel-Lucent has expanded its interoperability testing (IOT) efforts with Intel to ensure the compatibility of Alcatel-Lucent’s WiMAX infrastructure with CPE and consumer electronics devices integrating Intel’s latest fixed/mobile WiMAX silicon, the Intel® WiMAX Connection 2250 as well as its WiMAX MIMO-capable chipset for mobile devices. Under the successful research and development collaboration and co-marketing agreement Alcatel-Lucent and Intel signed in 2004, the two companies have made strong progress in their joint efforts to promote the WiMAX ecosystem, successfully completing IOT for fixed applications and now engaging in testing of chipsets and infrastructure supporting nomadic and fully mobile services. Devices based upon Intel’s WiMAX chipsets are expected to be made available for fixed and nomadic services before the end of 2007, and for mobile services in 2008.
Alcatel-Lucent also has signed a joint development agreement with Kyocera Wireless to collaborate on the development of end-to-end wireless broadband solutions incorporating Alcatel-Lucent’s industry-leading IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard WiMAX infrastructure and a variety of wireless devices from Kyocera including multimode mobile phones, non-traditional wireless devices, wireless PC cards and USB devices for PCs. [Please see joint announcement from Alcatel-Lucent and Kyocera Wireless, September 25].
“The growing strength of our Open CPE Program shows how quickly the WiMAX ecosystem is maturing,” said Karim El Naggar, head of Alcatel-Lucent’s WiMAX business. “Together with our existing partners, these new initiatives with Intel and Kyocera will further enhance, in strict compliance with the WiMAX standard, our ability to provide WiMAX operators with the variety and quality of wireless devices they need to offer customers a whole new kind of mobile broadband experience.”
“Alcatel-Lucent’s Open CPE Program has been an asset in our efforts to foster a vibrant ecosystem featuring a wide array of wireless terminals,” said Raviv Melamed, general manager of Intel’s mobile wireless group. “While initial platform efforts focused on conventional wireless access methods such as PCMCIA cards and MiniCard modules for laptops, we are now seeing the emergence of a broad range of devices such as mobile gaming consoles, cameras and other consumer electronics devices that can all reap the benefits of broadband mobile connectivity.”
“As a developer of end-user solutions that will harness the power of WiMAX, it is our goal to look beyond traditional devices to create a new category of products for mobile broadband,” said Dave Carey, vice president, strategic planning at Kyocera Wireless Corp. “Alcatel-Lucent has shown a commitment to help make this a reality by continually growing its Open CPE program to include other companies that share this common vision, we look forward to the ongoing efforts between our companies to extend our collaboration within Alcatel-Lucent’s WiMAX ecosystem.”
With more than 70 pilots and deployments across the world and 15 commercial contracts signed since the beginning of 2007, these initiatives clearly underscores Alcatel Lucent‘s leading position in the WiMAX market.
Note to reporters: Alcatel-Lucent will be showcasing its Universal WiMAX portfolio in its booth (#821) at the 2007 WiMAX World Conference & Exposition at the McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, September 25 - 27, 2007. In the booth we will highlight our IEEE 802.16e-2005 (Rev-e) compliant WiMAX infrastructure, including key advanced antenna technologies such as MIMO and beam forming. To set up a technology demonstration or briefing, please contact Kurt Steinert at ksteinert@Alcatel-Lucent.com.
About Alcatel-Lucent’s Open CPE Program:
Alcatel-Lucent’s Open CPE Program is an comprehensive, multi-faceted technology incubation program designed support the creation, maturation and evolution of a vibrant WiMAX ecosystem. The goal of the Open CPE program is to ensure that our customers have access to a rich and varied array of terminal devices to support a wide range of mobile broadband applications and services. Toward this end Alcatel-Lucent has established tight partnerships with best-in-class specialized terminal and chipset partners in order to secure the early availability of devices and the development of essential features. The Open CPE Program involves a three-fold approach based on technology partnerships with chipset vendors, joint development agreements with terminal manufacturers and a robust interoperability program that ensures the compatibility of both chipsets and terminals with Alcatel-Lucent WiMAX infrastructure, and by extension the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard.
About WiMAX:
WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e-2005) stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. It enables Voice and Broadband connectivity for fixed, nomadic or mobile use in urban, suburban and rural areas.For more information about WiMAX, please click here.