Paris, France – Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced that its PMI solution (electronic interlocking equipment) has been successfully commissioned, as planned, on November 14th, 2005, on Paris RATP metro line 11.

PMI Interlocking systems are an innovative mass transit electronic applications using standard technology that ensures a high level of safety, high availability and low life cycle costs. Designed to equip new lines or modernize existing urban rail infrastructure, it is fully developed to perform all the interlocking functions and ensure remote control from either the main control center or the Alcatel local supervision system. Interfaces with the Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system is also planned in the coming months.

Alcatel also delivered a complete laboratory platform that will allow RATP engineers to manage future evolution using Alcatel’s efficient PMI automatic tools and suites.

Alcatel’s interlocking solution represents a major step in RATP’s strategy to replace their relay based interlocking by Electronic Interlocking. Following this successful achievement, RATP is launching the deployment of 14 additional PMI Interlocking systems.

RATP metro operates one of the largest subway networks in the world,
transporting 4,5 million people per day.

“With this Alcatel solution that obtained both the safety approval from all the official authorities and the RATP safety organisation, we will offer a better service and higher level of security. Electronic interlocking will allow us to modernize our equipment while decreasing our maintenance costs” states Didier Bense, Head of Equipment and Transportation Systems Department of RATP.

“We are proud that RATP has chosen Alcatel’s leading edge technology to upgrade its network especially since RATP is well-known for its strong operation and technical expertise. This success reinforces the partnership between two companies that know each other more and more and have learned how to combine their skills. I am convinced that these close relationships are a key factor of success” said Jean-Pierre Forestier, President of Alcatel’s transport automation activities.

Successful commissioning confirms Alcatel’s leadership in the mass transit market segment.

About RATP
The RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens, the Paris public transport system) is the world leader in multimodal transport, with 16 metro lines, 2 RER lines (Réseau Express Régional, the regional express network), 2 tramway lines and more than 300 bus lines. It also provides service to the two large Paris airports via Roissybus, Orlybus and the Orlyval shuttle (an automatic metro). The area served by the RATP has a population of about 11 million inhabitants. Every day, the RATP handles
some 10 million trips on the RER, metros, tramways and buses, for a total of over 2.7 billion trips in 2004.

About Alcatel’s Railway Solutions
To meet the challenge of increased mobility, Alcatel offers a host of advanced railway solutions that ensure safe, reliable and comfortable transportation of passengers and freight through the network. Drawing on wide international experience in all aspects of transport automation and network integration and services, Alcatel is a leading worldwide supplier for signaling – train control, train routing, control centers – and integrated communications solutions to carry and distribute voice, data and video to and from all sites of urban and main line rail. Whether enhancing, renewing or building new lines, Alcatel is an ideal partner to address the operational needs of main line and urban rail operators.

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 12.3 billion and 56,000 employees in 2004, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.