Alcatel-Lucent opens world’s first alternative energy laboratory, pilot site

Technology developed at Bell Labs will make it possible for the more than one billion people in areas not served with electricity to access advanced communications services

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext and NYSE: ALU) today announced the operational launch of the first alternative energy laboratory and pilot site in the world dedicated to the telecoms sector. Located on its Bell Labs research site in Villarceaux, France, this station forms part of an Alternative Energy strategic program launched by Alcatel-Lucent to respond to the growing demand from wireless operators for energy-autonomous and green wireless networking equipment that can provide advanced communications capabilities even in remote areas with no access to commercial power grids.

Alcatel-Lucent’s Alternative Energy program will make it possible for operators to extend the reach of their wireless services to access a huge population of potential new subscribers for its customers – the more than one billion people living in areas not served by an electrical grid. These people have no access to phone or broadband services and consequently are cut off from a vital tool for economic and social development.

This program builds on Alcatel-Lucent’s recent innovations to create more energy efficient wireless networks and leverage its experience deploying more than 300 radio sites powered by alternative energy sources. The goal is to develop a mass-produced alternative energy solution capable of being deployed to more than 100,000 wireless base station sites through 2012.

The Villarceaux pilot site consists of a wireless base station powered by a hybrid system of solar panels and wind turbines, but not dependent on the electrical grid. At the same time, the laboratory section is researching other energy sources, such as fuel cells and bio-fuels.

“The site offers Alcatel-Lucent and its customers and its industrial, institutional and academic partners, the ability to analyze, test and validate the solutions proposed by the dynamic, but fragmented, alternative energy sector. It is also a center for people within the company and outside to discuss and try out new ideas to bring the world of telecoms and that of alternative energy closer together,” said Rich Garafola, director of Sustainable Power solutions at Alcatel-Lucent.

The team of scientists and researchers staffing this lab also will research technologies that will enable operators serving developed areas to retrofit existing base stations with alternative energy solutions, consequently cutting down on their carbon emission and helping them reduce their network operating costs while protecting the environment.

About Alcatel-Lucent “Sustainable Power” services
The research on developing alternate energy sources for wireless base stations is part of the company’s overall “Sustainable Power” service suite designed to help enterprises and service providers develop detailed plans to reduce energy consumption while maintaining and enhancing the quality and reliability of their networks. Alcatel-Lucent offers professional network services that aid carriers and enterprises analyze their network power consumption requirements, identifying areas where improvements can be made to existing infrastructure as well as make recommendations on alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and fuel cells. The Sustainable Power service includes exhaustive energy efficiency assessments that scope out the whole network from equipment deployment to equipment recycling and the energy consumed in between.

About Alcatel-Lucent’s eco-responsible approach
As a leader in telecommunications, Alcatel-Lucent is helping to enrich people’s daily lives by transforming the way in which the world communicates, and by acting in full recognition of its social and environmental responsibilities as a company. Alcatel-Lucent also recognizes the essential role the IT and communications sectors must play in the global effort to address environmental issues such as climate change. The Group is committed to playing an active role and to involving its suppliers and other partners in a socially responsible approach that respects the diverse local communities.

About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 16.98 billion in 2008 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com