Alcatel becomes supplier of IPTV solution for T-Com in Slovakia

Paris, April 11, 2006 - Slovak Telekom, a.s., a group member of Deutsche Telekom and Slovakia’s leading telecommunication services provider (which provides its products and services under the T-Com brand), has selected Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) as the supplier for its upcoming Internet protocol television (IPTV) deployment, based on the combination of Alcatel’s services integration solution and the Microsoft TV® IPTV Edition software platform.

The project will include broadcast TV and video on demand (VoD). The first phase of the contract, a market trial, is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2006. A full market deployment is expected by the end of 2006.

Alcatel is providing a complete services integration solution that brings together the network infrastructure, software platforms and integration skill sets required to deliver a superior user experience. Alcatel is the industry leader in providing purpose-built technology solutions and services integration that allow carriers to reduce the cost and complexity associated with large scale deployments.

Built upon the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software platform, T-Com’s IPTV offering will offer an enhanced user experience by enabling user-friendly features like instant channel change, multiple picture in picture, personal video recorder (PVR) functionality (such as one-touch recording and pausing live TV) and video on demand (VoD).

"IPTV (under the T-Com brand) is a new and exciting service that fits into our ongoing commitment to deliver a diverse mix of telephony and multimedia services over IP" said Herbert Müller, Senior Executive Vice-President/COO of Slovak Telekom. "Slovak Telekom has a modern infrastructure capable of delivering high-speed Internet, voice over IP (VoIP), unified messaging and a range of integrated applications"

"In April 2004, we began working with Slovak Telekom on an extensive upgrade of their legacy analog infrastructure using Alcatel’s IP-based Next Generation Network (NGN) solution" said Monika Maurer, President of Alcatel’s fixed solutions activities. "The addition of IPTV builds upon this network transformation and allows Slovak Telekom to extend their core business with a strong video services offering"

Slovak Telekom’s modern network and innovative service offering can be expanded to include new applications like the Alcatel 5900 My Own TV (allowing families or other groups to make their own TV channels for sharing home movies and photos), the Alcatel 5900 Amigo TV (allowing friends to share emotions and chat while watching the same TV program) and Alcatel 5900 Communications TV (allowing the TV to act as a "communications hub" where all fixed and mobile calls can be routed).

About Slovak Telekom
Slovak Telekom, a. s. is dynamically developing company with many years’ traditions at Slovak telecommunications market. At the same time, company is the leader in the provision of telecommunications services in the Slovak Republic. The company owns and operates a telecommunication network covering the entire territory of Slovakia, provides national and international telephone services, a wide portfolio of data services. Slovak Telekom, a. s. is the leader in providing broadband internet access and is dynamically developing operator providing services in the field of internet entertainment content. Completing the digitalisation of its network through the NGN technology Slovak Telekom, a. s. turned into a telecommunication operator operating one of the largest IP NGN networks in the world from among the incumbent fixed line operators. Slovak Telekom, a. s. is a member of the multinational Deutsche Telekom Group (Frankfurt, Amtlicher Handel: DTE/NYSE: DT). The majority shareholder of Slovak Telekom is Deutsche Telekom AG owning 51 % of the shares. The Ministry of Transport, Postal Services and Telecommunications of the Slovak Republic owns 34 % of the shares and the National Property Fund of the Slovak Republic holds 15 % of the shares. Slovak Telekom, a.s. is the sole owner of T-Mobile Slovensko, a. s., which provides mobile communication services and operates data networks. T-Mobile Slovensko, a. s. is a member of the T-Mobile International Group, one of the largest mobile communication companies world-wide. T-Com is the business brand of the Slovak Telekom, a. s. for the providing of fixed line products and services.

About the Slovak Telekom Group
Slovak Telekom Group comprises the parent company Slovak Telekom, a. s. and its subsidiaries T-Mobile Slovensko, a. s., RK Tower, s. r. o., RK Transmission (in liquidation), Zoznam, s. r. o., Zoznam Mobile, s. r. o. and TBDS, a. s. Branches of the company - Rádiokomunikácie, o. z. and Commercial Call Centre, o. z. are also parts of the Slovak Telekom, a. s. company. Slovak Telekom Group is the only provider of comprehensive telecommunications services in Slovakia, offer its customers fixed network services, mobile communications services, access to the Internet, Internet content, data services, sale of customer premises equipment, radio and television broadcasting transmission services or commercial call centre services.

About Alcatel’s user-centric triple play
To meet today’s quest for increased personalized and interactive services, Alcatel helps worldwide operators transform their networks and deliver a new, way better end-user experience. Alcatel’s user-centric triple play builds on its leadership in broadband technology, IP networking, optics, new multimedia and video applications, as well as end-to-end services integration. End-users will enjoy unique, exciting services including video on demand, personal TV, community channels, online gaming and sharing of music, photos and home videos, all delivered simply and seamlessly via a range of devices and networks. Alcatel is currently involved in more that 35 triple play network projects worldwide including AT&T/SBC, BellSouth, France Telecom, Swisscom, Fastweb or Chunghwa Telecom…
For more information: http://www.alcatel.com/tripleplay

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.

Contact Information

Mark Burnworth

Alcatel

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