Marconi and TEIN TELECOM Score Major SDH Optical Transmission Win in Belgium
COMTEX
PITTSBURGH, Sep 15, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In another major optical
networking win, Marconi (London: MNI), a global provider of advanced
communications solutions, with systems integrator TEIN TELECOM, has announced
the signing of a three year, $87.5 million (62 million pounds sterling) contract
with Belgian national operator, Belgacom, for a nationwide network.
(Photo: NewsCom: newscom.com )
Marconi's SDH optical transmission equipment, operating at speeds of up to
10Gbps, will serve as the basis of the operator's core regional & optical access
transport networks, providing flexible, high-bandwidth services to almost 10
million fixed-line, mobile and Internet customers, as well as the growing number
of competitive carriers needing to interconnect to the Belgacom network. It will
also help deliver improved quality of service to customers of Belgacom's
subsidiaries throughout Europe, through either direct deployment in those
operators' networks, or fast inter-connection to the company's Belgian
infrastructure.
The new agreement represents an endorsement of the power and performance of
Marconi Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) equipment, which has already been
extensively deployed by Belgacom over the last three years through an
arrangement with a third-party supplier.
As the first-ever direct deal between Marconi and Belgacom, this contract
reinforces Marconi's growing role as a primary supplier to major customers and
capitalizes on the skill of the company's Services division, which will provide
key technical support services for the duration of the contract in close
partnership with TEIN TELECOM.
"We out-paced our rivals to win the Belgacom deal by coming up with a very
competitive bid that incorporated not only a full SDH solution, but a direct
servicing agreement that will assure Belgacom of worry-free installation,
operation and maintenance for the life of the contract," said Peter Brown,
president, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australasia (EMEA), Marconi
Communications.
The deal covers a full range of add-drop SDH multiplexers, from STM-1 155Mbps to
high-end STM-64 10Gbps equipment, along with Marconi's MV-36, MV-38 and EMOS
graphical network management systems. The equipment will form part of a
substantial nationwide network upgrade that will see Marconi SDH infrastructure
serve as the foundation of Belgacom's future fast Internet access and advanced
fixed and mobile services.
"Belgacom's new SDH national transport network will not only cut equipment and
management costs, it will provide the flexibility needed in terms of new product
and service innovation to help the company stay ahead of the pack in an
increasingly competitive market. This deal is a major new contract with one of
Europe's most modern, customer-focused operators," said Mr. Brown.
Installation of the network architecture is scheduled to begin from this autumn.
"By choosing Marconi/TEIN as SDH supplier, new services with higher bandwidth
will be deployed on mature and future proof products. Our partnership will allow
us to evolve towards a new architecture reshaped to face ever-growing capacities
with bulletproof protection and restoration. The enhanced management system
concept built up with the supplier must allow us to drastically improve our
process efficiency and enhance the monitoring of our services," said Jos Follon,
Head of Network Services, Belgacom.
The Belgacom contract is Marconi's latest major optical networking win within
the last four weeks. It has already announced an important deal with British
Telecom for the supply of SDH and Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM)
equipment, which will be used to build Europe's most advanced all-optical
network, as well as orders from Telecom Italia, Fibernet (Germany) and Telfort
(Netherlands).
About Marconi plc
Marconi plc is a global communications and IT company with 49,000 employees
worldwide and sales in over 100 countries. It supplies advanced communications
solutions and the key technologies and services for the Internet. Marconi plc is
listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol MNI. Additional information
about Marconi and Marconi Communications can be found at www.marconi.com.
All other brands or product names are trademarks of their respective holders.
For further information, contact Jim Blew, Media Relations of Marconi,
724-742-7745, or james.blew@marconi.com
SOURCE Marconi plc
CONTACT: Jim Blew, Media Relations of Marconi, 724-742-7745, or
james.blew@marconi.com
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KEYWORD: Pennsylvania
Belgium
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CPR
TLS
NET
SUBJECT CODE: CON
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