Feb 1, 2006 -- Swisscom Selects GE Energy's Smallworld Network Inventory Telecommunications Solution

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - February 1, 2006 :- GE Energy has announced that Swisscom Fixnet has selected GE as the primary contractor to provide a new asset management solution for their nationwide physical network infrastructure.

The solution is based on the Smallworld Network Inventory Product Suite* and the SAP Enterprise Resource Planning modules to improve the efficiency and accuracy of its access network planning. The Project Planning Tool for the Access Network (PTA) will enable Swisscom to optimize various business processes and improve service to customers by accelerating the time to market for the delivery of triple-play services-internet, voice and video.

"Our decision to select GE Energy as the prime contractor was based on how they differentiated themselves in three key areas," stated Mr. Haldemann, head of Swisscom Fixnet wholesale. "We are focused on improving our asset utilization. Additionally, we want to optimize our project-planning processes, and finally, we aim at reducing the number of interfaces we currently employ. The GE solution addresses each of these points and a successful implementation will position us very competitively for the future."

The PTA solution supports the management of the outside plant of Swisscom's physical network infrastructure. For all commercial and logistical aspects, PTA integrates the enterprise resource planning products of SAP to improve the procurement process for new network design as well as construction and asset operation. The access to PTA external users is enabled through a comprehensive Web portal. Field workforces are supported by the Smallworld Field Information System* product for remote usage on handheld devices in the field. Finally, all users of PTA are guided through the processes by an integrated workflow management system.

The project is defined as a full-service project that includes system configuration and integration, the data capture of Swisscom's nationwide network into Smallworld Network Inventory and system deployment and operation on delivered hardware. Up to 600 users will be trained on the operation of the PTA solution in the next five years.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technology. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy provides equipment, service and management solutions across the power generation, transmission and distribution, distributed power and energy rental industries.

* are trademarks of General Electric Company.

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