ALLSB Allstream (MM)

Canada's Allstream Selects Alcatel IP Service Router for National Gigabit Ethernet Network Network Upgrade Key Part of Allstream's Investment Strategy in Next Generation IP Services DALLAS, March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alcatel today announced it has been selected by Allstream , a leading Canadian communications provider, to provide its next-generation Internet Protocol (IP) service router for Allstream's national switched gigabit Ethernet network. By using the Alcatel Service Router (SR), aproduct designed to deliver advanced Internet and virtual private network services, Allstream can gain a critical competitive edge by providing enhanced Ethernet-based services nationwide with guaranteed quality of service (QoS) for each customer. With the Alcatel SR, Allstream can quickly introduce scalable, advanced IP-based services allowing Allstream to attract and retain a wider customer base. In combination with the Alcatel network manager portfolio, the Alcatel SR also provides tightly integrated assurance, provisioning and a single point of operational support system (OSS) integration for Allstream's network, thus ensuring the smooth introduction and operation of new services for its customers. "Advanced technology and a firm commitment to support our specific business and technical requirements were key factors in selecting Alcatel's equipment," said Henry Yip, Allstream's executive vice president, Network Services. "This network upgrade allows us to improve our capabilities to support GigE and future 10 GigE requirements. Specifically, the Alcatel SR helps us set new technical and commercial benchmarks for our competition by allowing us to deliver a wider range of service offerings, more accurate service level agreement enforcement and scalable service provisioning, enabling faster time to revenue -- all crucial to our nationwide offering. This network upgrade supports our ongoing investment in next generation IP services. Allstream has been offering IP-based services since 2000, and we are committed to investing the majority of our network capital to continually enhance Allstream's IP capabilities." "To enable profitable business-grade IP services, service providers such as Allstream need more functionality than is available in today's Internet routers," said Basil Alwan, president of Alcatel's IP activities. "Because the Alcatel SR is all about flexibility to deliver advanced IP-based services, Allstream can go further with its existing core network and deliver high-value service level agreement-based services to its customers." About Allstream Allstream is a leading communication solutions provider with a world-class portfolio of connectivity, infrastructure management and IT services. Focused on the business market, Allstream collaborates with customers to create tailored solutions that meet their unique needs and help them compete more effectively. Spanning more than 18,800 kilometres, Allstream has an extensive broadband fibre-optic network and the greatestreach of any competitive communication solutions provider in Canada, and provides international connections through strategic partnerships and interconnection agreements with other international service providers. For more information, http://www.allstream.com/ Note to Allstream Investors This news release includes statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provisions contained in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what the Company currently foresees. Discussion of the various factors that may affect future results is contained on page 1 of the Company's Annual Information Form dated May 2, 2003, which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission, and SEDAR. 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 to their employees. Alcatel leverages its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services to bring value to its customers in the framework of a broadband world. With sales of Euro 12.5 billion in 2003, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, http://www.alcatel.com/ http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031111/ALALOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Alcatel CONTACT: press, Brian Murphy, +1-972-519-6677, or , or investor relations, Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, +1-703-668-3571, or , or industry analysts, Julie Buckley, +1-707-792-7820, or , all of Alcatel; or press, May Chong, +1-416-345-2342, or , or investor relations, Brock Robertson, +1-416-345-3125, or , or Dan Coombes, +1-416-345-2326, or , all of Allstream Web site: http://www.alcatel.com/ http://www.allstream.com/

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