Grande Communications selects Alcatel to supply fiber optic cable for metro network

Feb. 22, 2001

Feb. 22, 2001--Texas-based broadband company Grande Communications announced it has signed a three-year deal with Alcatel, a provider of intelligent optical networking, for the supply of fiber optic cable and interconnection hardware for Grande Communications' broadband network.

Texas-based broadband company Grande Communications announced it has signed a three-year deal with Alcatel (Paris:CGEP.PA) (NYSE:ALA), a provider of intelligent optical networking, for the supply of fiber optic cable and interconnection hardware for Grande Communications' broadband network. Grande is building a fiber broadband network that will offer Central Texas and Houston residents access to high-speed Internet, local and long distance telephone and cable television entertainment services.

Over the next three years, Alcatel will allocate 100,000 kilometers of fiber and related interconnection hardware for the construction of Grande Communications' network. Grande Communications also has the option to double the amount of fiber they receive from Alcatel in the second or third year if an accelerated construction timeline creates the demand.

Using FTTC (Fiber To The Curb) technology, Grande Communications' network will offer bandwidth capabilities in excess of 10 Mb/s per user. Grande Communications' network will benefit from Alcatel's fiber with their ColorLock fiber coating technology.

Construction of Grande Communications' network has already begun in Austin, San Marcos and San Antonio, and is set to begin in Houston in 2001. Grande Communications will begin offering bundled services to Austin and San Antonio and San Marcos residents in Q1 2001.

About Grande Communications:

Grande Communications is building a ground-up deep fiber broadband network to homes and businesses to deliver high-speed Internet access services, local and long distance phone and cable television entertainment services over its own advanced broadband network. For more information, visit www.grandecom.com.

About Alcatel:

Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. For more information, visit www.alcatel.com.