30th April - Macropolitan and Alcatel-Lucent have signed a deal to work together to provide UK operators with an offering that brings the technology and services leadership of Alcatel-Lucent together with Macropolitan's ownership of the UK's largest portfolio of exclusive telecoms rights at 8,900 urban sites.

Alcatel-Lucent can now offer UKoperators a fully outsourced WiMAX network deployment in urban areas. Alcatel-Lucent is able to provide the WiMAX infrastructure, network planning, site acquisition, installation and maintenance services while Macropolitan will offer its portfolio of urban sites to Alcatel-Lucent. This partnership will deliver a best-in-class WiMAX deployment service, removing delays associated with traditional site acquisition.

"Alcatel-Lucent is offering UKoperators a WiMAX network turn-key deployment service using Macropolitan's leading urban site portfolio. We chose to work with Macropolitan to enable us to offer superior urban coverage to our customers and to further extend our strategic advantage in the WiMAX market" said Alan Mottram, CEO of Alcatel-Lucent UK& Ireland.

Ryan Jarvis, CEO, Macropolitan stated that "Alcatel-Lucent has a proven track record in WiMAX innovation. Macropolitan is therefore pleased to provide our sites to Alcatel-Lucent so that Alcatel-Lucent can now offer the fastest WiMAX turn-key roll-out service available to any UKoperator."

Many telecom operators are moving to outsource their network deployments to the major technology vendors. Alcatel-Lucent has recently won several major outsource contracts, such as with E-Plus in February 2007. As Macropolitan is a pure-play site provider it is well positioned to take a partnership approach with the major vendors. Unlike a traditional tower company, Macropolitan does not compete with a vendor's managed services business. This vendor partnership approach is off to a strong start with a global leader such as Alcatel-Lucent. By working directly with operators and now also partnering with their major vendors, Macropolitan is driving change in the UK site market for the benefit of operators.

With its innovative business model, urban focus and fast growing site portfolio that extends its UKurban site leadership to 8,900 sites, Macropolitan is a compelling independent alternative for operators who have previously contracted with the now consolidating tower companies.

About Macropolitan

Macropolitan is the largest owner of exclusive telecoms rights at urban sites in the UK.

It has over 35 property owner partners including Travelodge, Premier Travel Inn, David Lloyd Leisure and Fitness First. Macropolitan aggregates, rents and manages access to this portfolio of 8,900 sites to telecom operators and their site deployment partners. Macropolitan's unique site portfolio enables operators to deploynew networks, ranging from 3G to WiMAX, faster, cheaper and with greater certainty than the direct site acquisition or tower company alternatives.

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