Global Photon and Alcatel Sign Contract to Supply
Terrestrial and Submarine Optical Network for Coastal
California Cities and Silicon Valley
Self-healing DWDM network to provide high capacity Internet connection to the Silicon Valley
ATLANTA, SUPERCOMM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2000-- Global Photon Systems, Inc. and Alcatel (NYSE: ALA - news) have
signed a contract, valued at more than US$100 million, for a fully integrated submarine and terrestrial Dense Wavelength Division
Multiplexing (DWDM) network in California. It will provide high level capacity ? more than four Tbits/s - for Internet, voice and data
services to all the major cities on the coast of California from San Francisco to San Diego and also will meet the high capacity, high
bandwidth demands of Silicon Valley.
The network is designed to interconnect with the main undersea cable networks that will connect the U.S. to the Asia-Pacific area, such as
Japan-U.S., China-U.S. and Southern Cross, providing secure and compatible alternate capacity distribution for international
communication traffic along the coast and inland.
``Working closely with Alcatel, we have designed a festoon system with a unique architecture, combining the strengths of both off-shore
and terrestrial optical networking technologies. This network is an important element in protecting the critical infrastructure of California,
which has some of the most demanding customers in the world for broadband communications,'' said Tim Stamnitz, president and CEO of
Global Photon Systems. ``Using Alcatel's state-of-the-art technology, this network is able to serve as a reliable backbone for our main
customers such as the international and domestic carriers, ISPs (Internet Service Providers), CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers)
and large corporations.''
The network, named Global West Network, will span a distance of more than 2,000 km. The system will use 24-fiber pair underwater cable,
with each fiber pair having 16 wavelengths at 10 Gbit/s. Higher fiber counts will be used on certain terrestrial segments. Alcatel is also
supplying the network management systems and the Synchronous Optical Network equipment capable of providing the full range of
electrical and optical interfaces to meet the needs of Global Photon's customers. The system takes advantage of Alcatel's technological lead
in the field of high capacity unrepeatered DWDM systems in having no undersea in-line components in the cable ? either electronic or
optical. The wavelength division multiplexing used for transmission means that the network also has considerable inherent flexibility in
terms of future upgrades.
The Global West Network will comprise five submarine segments and five terrestrial segments, which will allow for two or more separate
rings, offering a robust protected architecture. The network will provide diverse connectivity between the main cities along the coast of
California, with direct connections between San Francisco, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego. The
network also will connect the international communication gateway in San Luis Obispo to San Jose, and the heart of Silicon Valley via a
dedicated self-healing ring. The entire system will be operational by the first quarter of 2001, with earlier availability on certain key
segments.
``This contract shows once again that Alcatel has a unique position in being able to design and provide fully integrated optical city-to-city
networks with a submarine, terrestrial or combined solution, according to our customers' needs,'' said Christian Reinaudo, president of
Alcatel Optics. ``These solutions range from the most advanced DWDM systems to the most comprehensive and customized services.''
To ensure the continued operational reliability of the network, Global Photon has also awarded to Alcatel a multi-year renewable operation,
administration and maintenance contract to provide a full-service package for all marine, terrestrial and cable station elements of the network.
Under this contract Alcatel will provide a dedicated on-site team of experts to continually monitor and maintain the network and provide the
necessary end-customer support.
While California is at the forefront of the Internet revolution, with ever increasing capacity needs, the existing terrestrial networks along its
coast are subject to a high-risk earthquake zone. However, seismic studies demonstrate that an undersea offshore cable provides maximum
resistance against cable breaks. One of the principal advantages of the Global West Network is that the continuity of the whole network will
be ensured in the event of seismic disruption, thanks to the submarine link architecture.
About Global Photon
Global Photon Systems, Inc. is a high-tech telecommunication start-up located at One America Plaza in downtown San Diego. The key
employees have a wealth of experience in fiber optic communications, having provided leadership in the development of both submarine and
terrestrial fiber optic systems for AT&T, Alcatel, and the U.S. Navy throughout the world over the last two decades. After conducting
feasibility studies for several coastal fiber optic systems in the U.S., they focused their attention specifically on the development of Global
West. The system design, development, planning, route surveys, and permitting are well advanced. After a year and one-half environmental
study for the California State Lands Commission, lead agency for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Global West Final
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified and a permit for lease of state lands approved on April 20, 2000.
About Alcatel
In November 1999, RHK, a leading telecommunications analyst firm, stated that Alcatel holds a 21% share - the number one position - of
the world's total transport market, which comprises submarine and terrestrial transmission systems. RHK noted that Alcatel's
market-leading 37% market share in the submarine networks segment helped secure the top position in the total transport market. In
addition, RHK found that Alcatel commands a 37% share of the digital cross-connect systems (DCS) segment. Cross-connect systems
contain the enabling technology for operators to offer high bandwidth services. Alcatel is also cited as the global leader in terms of DWDM
market share for the global market encompassing both terrestrial and submarine applications.
Alcatel is the world leader in delivering full turnkey submarine network solutions and services. Alcatel leads this industry in terms of: -
having the highest sold capacity up to 5.12 Tbit/s for the long-haul systems and 3.6 Tbit/s for the short-haul ones, using the latest DWDM
technology; - having the largest manufacturing capacity at 85,000 km per year strategically located around the globe; - using nine dedicated
purposed-designed vessels for a tight control on the delivery schedule.
Current contracts, worth US$ 4.5-plus billion, include the most advanced undersea networks in the world today: Atlantica-1 and FLAG
Atlantic-1 systems in the Atlantic, the FLAG Pacifc-1, Japan-U.S. and Southern Cross transpacific systems, and the MAC and MAYA-1
systems in the Americas and SAT-3 around Africa.
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. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 23 billion in 1999, Alcatel operates
in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: alcatel.com
Contact:
Press contact
Klaus Wustrack
Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 11 56
klaus.wustrack@alcatel.fr
Brian Murphy
Tel: +1 972 519 6677
brian.murphy@usa.alcatel.com
Sophie Pepe
Tel : +33 (0)1 55 51 63 57
sophie.pepe@asn.alcatel.co.uk
Investor Relations
Claire Pedini
Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 93
claire.pedini@alcatel.fr
Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane
Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 30
charlotte.laurent.ottomane@alcatel.fr
Emmanuel Spite
Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 16 04
emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr
Peter Campbell
Tel : +1 972 519 4347
peter.campbell@usa.alcatel.com |
