Alcatel and Telkom launch the first Internet Cafe in Tembisa, South Africa

Johannesburg, March 17, 2006 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) and Telkom today announced the creation of the Mzansi Internet Incubation Café, in Tembisa. The main focus of the Internet Cafe is to contribute towards bridging the digital divide in South Africa. This joint project which is co-sponsored by Alcatel and Telkom is not only intended to create employment opportunities for people from historically marginalised backgrounds, but also to broaden access to information in areas where these have been historically neglected.
The Internet Café is located at 171 Mzangwa Street, Endulwini Section, Tembisa South, five minutes walk away from the nearest school and seven minutes from the public library. The venue is also located centrally for people who commute by train to and from work. This location will attract people from all walks of life, such as students, residents, local businesses, community organisations, etc. Whilst this café will function as a business, it has also a social responsibility objective as during school times it will offer free access for several hours a day to the nearest school, Endulwini Primary School.

The core business of the Internet Cafe will be to provide Internet access with supporting products such as photocopying, faxing, laminating, scanning, printing, typing and public phones. The Internet Café will also host Tembisa’s official website, which will enable customers to advertise their businesses and inform the overall community about the news and changes in Tembisa.

Also partnering with Alcatel and Telkom on this initiative is the Presidential National Commission on Information Society (PNC on ISAD). The PNC on ISAD intends to monitor and evaluate this model, with the aim of coordinating its duplication to other needy areas.


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.

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Régine Coqueran

Alcatel

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