No grass growing under feet at Prism.
NORTEL NETWORKS: Prism selects Nortel Networks optical Internet solution for network expansion
2/4/00 10:54:28 AM
FEB 4, 2000, M2 Communications - NEW YORK -- Prism Communication Services Inc., a subsidiary of Comdisco, Inc. [NYSE:
CDO], announced a contract worth an estimated US$19 million with Nortel Networks* [NYSE/TSE: NT] to provide next-generation
optical networking equipment. Prism plans to deploy Nortel Networks' OPTera*LH backbone system with 32 wavelength
Dense-Wavelength Division Multiplexing (D-WDM) carrying high-speed Internet traffic between Prism business centers in
Chicago, Cleveland, New York City, Washington D.C. and Atlanta. Prism's network already utilizes Nortel Networks' Internet
Telephony solutions to serve residential and business customers, based on an October 1999 US$460 million contract.
"Using Nortel Networks' backbone solution, we're building a high-capacity network that links our critical business centers," said
Terry Peck, CEO of Prism. "The robust backbone infrastructure, combined with Nortel Networks' 1-Meg Modem technology,
offers our customers a powerful network that enables reliable, high-speed integrated data, voice and other communications
solutions." Prism has also selected Nortel Networks' advanced S/DMS TransportNode OC-48 equipment for tributary access to
the network.
The optical portfolio Prism selected enables scalability to terabit speeds.
"Prism is deploying an advanced network to bring high-speed Internet access solutions to business and telework customers,"
said Anil Khatod, president, Optical Internet, Nortel Networks. "Nortel Networks' OPTera solution will allow Prism to easily scale
the backbone as their customer base grows." In 1999, Nortel Networks set new standards for speed with its OPTera technology
demonstrating an 80 Gbps platform and in bandwidth with the OPTera 1600G, which transmits 160 colors of light each capable of
carrying 10 Gbps of traffic, for total capacity of 1.6 Tbps.
Prism's network currently uses Nortel Networks' switching platform (DMS-500*) and 1- Meg Modem technology over standard
copper telephone wires, based on the October 1999 contract. Prism's flagship brand RED* provides high-speed connectivity for
customers to access the Internet at speeds up to 1.3 Mbps. This technology allows simultaneous voice and data transmission
over the same copper loop with no signal interference.
Prism Communication Services, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a subsidiary of Comdisco, Inc. (NYSE: CDO). Through
REDsm, its flagship service, Prism is expanding products and geography to become a leading integrated communications
provider, directly offering a total communications solution that includes high-speed connectivity for data, voice, video, Internet
and other secure business applications. Designed for small and medium businesses, teleworkers, and power users, RED
provides tools that enhance its customers' productivity. For more information, call 888-RED-2000 or visit the Web site at
www.redconnect.com.
Nortel Networks is a global leader in telephony, data, eBusiness, and wireless solutions for the Internet. The Company had 1999
U.S.
GAAP revenues of US$21.3 billion and serves carrier, service provider and enterprise customers globally. Today, Nortel
Networks is creating a high-performance Internet that is more reliable and faster than ever before. It is redefining the economics
and quality of networking and the Internet through Unified Networks* that promise a new era of collaboration, communications
and commerce.
Visit us at www.nortelnetworks.com.
* Nortel Networks, the Nortel Networks Globemark, DMS, DMS-500,
Unified Networks, OPTera and How the world shares ideas are trademarks
of Nortel Networks. RED is a service mark of Prism Communication
Services, Inc. |
