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July 17 2004

Alcatel has announced that the mobile network it has deployed for Orascom Telecom Algerie, Algeria's leading mobile operator, has enabled the operator to not only register its 2 millionth subscriber and deploy the multimedia GPRS mobile services it launched last week, but also to introduce the first broadband EDGE services ever provided on the African continent.

"Thanks to the support of Alcatel, who has been our technological partner since we began our activities in Algeria, we have been able to meet the challenge of rapidly deploying a cutting edge technology in order to offer our Algerian customers the latest broadband multimedia services", stated Hassan Kabbani, CEO of Orascom Telecom Algerie. "In less than 3 years, Orascom Telecom Algerie has democratized the mobile telephony market in Algeria while at the same time bringing the latest technologies to the entire telecommunications sector. These developments, illustrated by the introduction of GPRS and EDGE will benefit the entire country."

Marc Rouanne, chief operating officer of Alcatel's mobile communications activities backs this up by adding: "This first deployment of EDGE technology on the African continent is another landmark in the partnership between Orascom and Alcatel. It is an achievement that illustrates how we can help our customers meet the growing demand for attractive new mobile services."

Orascom Telecom Algerie, under its brand name Djezzy GSM, is the leading mobile telephony operator in Algeria with 2 million subscribers. It won the license in July 2001 with a bid of US$737 million. OTA's accrued investments total US$1.6 billion, making it the biggest foreign investor in Algeria. Its Djezzy GSM networks extends to 48 wilayas and covers 80% of the population. Orascom Telecom Algerie is a subsidiary of Orascom Telecom, the largest telecommunications group in the Middle-East, the Maghreb and Africa.