Largest Converged Communications Network for World’s Largest Sporting Event is Set for Kickoff

Avaya network to deliver ultimate performance for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™

09-Mar-2006, HANNOVER, GERMANY – There are only three months until the opening match of one of the world’s most watched and attended sports events, the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany, but the converged voice and data communications network for this event is built and ready for deployment.

Avaya Inc. (NYSE: AV), a leading global provider of business communications applications, systems and services, is ready to begin installation of the FIFA World Cup network in Cologne and Hamburg to prepare for FIFA integration testing scheduled for early April.

The converged network combines voice and data on the same infrastructure, which reduces costs and simplifies network administration. The network will connect the 12 FIFA World Cup Stadiums, the stadium media centres and FIFA headquarters in Berlin. Players, coaches, volunteers and fans will use the Avaya network for a variety of tasks, including accrediting players and journalists, reporting results, tracking materials supplies, confirming hotel accommodations, arranging transportation, managing ticketing, and maintaining security systems.

The converged communication network for the FIFA World Cup is currently housed in the Avaya World Cup Labs located in Frankfurt, where it has been rigorously tested for configuration, reliability and security. The next step is for applications to be tested on portions of the network in a simulated "live" stadium environment. Then, in early April, FIFA and Avaya will conduct the last stage of performance testing of FIFA’s applications across the network. Later in April, the network will be rolled out to stadiums throughout Germany, with all venues’ networks installed and tested by April 29, and all stadiums open and operational by May 15.

"With more than 35,000 network connections, approximately 40,000 network devices and an estimated 15 terabytes of data, it’s hard to think of a bigger or more complex network than that of the FIFA World Cup when it comes to converged communications" said Don Peterson, chairman and CEO, Avaya. "Our experience from the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, combined with our expertise providing millions of customers worldwide with reliable, flexible and secure communications solutions, makes us more than ready for the challenge. Let the countdown to the games begin"

Avaya has been a partner of FIFA since 2001 and is the Official Converged Communication Provider for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. Avaya has designed and installed the communication networks for the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2003.

About Avaya
Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than one million businesses worldwide, including over 90 per cent of the FORTUNE 500®. Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet Protocol telephony systems and communications software applications and services.

Driving the convergence of voice and data communications with business applications - and distinguished by comprehensive worldwide services - Avaya helps customers leverage existing and new networks to achieve superior business results. For more information visit the Avaya Web site: http://www.avaya.com

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Allesandra de Santillana

Media Relations

Avaya Inc.

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