AT&T Latin America to Provide Seamless Metropolitan and Domestic Broadband Communications Services in Argentina
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- New 1,600 fiber-km network will link AT&T Latin America's metropolitan networks in Argentina
- USD $20MM Techint contract will enable company to offer service to more than 80 percent of Argentina's business customers
- Argentina slated to spearhead company's inter-country connectivity strategy
MIAMI, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T Latin America (Nasdaq: ATTL - news), the new communications services provider with operations in five Latin American countries, announced today it will build a 1,600 kilometer (approximately) domestic fiber optic network in Argentina that will link the country's major business centers. This move brings the company one step closer to providing seamless metropolitan and domestic high-speed communications services in Argentina as it will connect metropolitan networks in Buenos Aires, Rosario, Santa Fe, La Plata, Cordoba and Mendoza.
AT&T Latin America estimates that it will now be able to support more than 80 percent of Argentina's business customers. ``This is a major step toward completion of our single-architecture ATM/IP network in Argentina,'' stated Patricio E. Northland, Chairman and CEO, AT&T Latin America. The company is already building its metropolitan networks, which began in Buenos Aires in mid-July and is slated to begin soon in the other four cities.
``With this network, Argentina becomes the model for what we expect to accomplish in the other countries where we operate,'' added Northland. ``This will enable us to become the first Latin America-focused communications provider to offer an end-to-end single-architecture IP/ATM broadband network domestically, regionally and --through our recently-announced capacity acquisition commitment from Global Crossing and our relationship with AT&T Corp.-- internationally.''
The domestic network build-out, which is scheduled for completion during the first quarter of 2001, includes a USD $20 million contract with Techint, one of Argentina's leading builders, for the provision of inter-city underground ducts. This contract is part of the company's estimated USD $500 million investment plan for Argentina announced in July.
AT&T Latin America: region's fastest-moving communications services provider
The high-speed fiber optic network will boast the most advanced transmission equipment available today -- DWDM (Dense Wave Division Multiplexion) -- providing business customers in Argentina broadband access to the latest communications offerings, including data transmission, e-commerce services, high-speed Internet access, value added services, long distance switch voice and local telephony, and videoconferencing.
``We are pleased to offer our corporate customers the highest connection speeds available today, and seamless connectivity with the highest quality standards,'' said Alex Rossi, General Manager for AT&T Latin America in Argentina. ``Most importantly, we are proud to be the fastest-to-market provider in the country. In just three months, we have been able to acquire Keytech LD, announce a $500 million investment plan, break ground in Buenos Aires for backbone and metropolitan fiber optic network build-out, and increase head count by about 500 percent.''
This announcement kicks off the company's network build-out plans to eventually connect more than 40 points of presence through the deployment of 2,500 route kilometers of network infrastructure, utilizing advanced fiber optic technology. Ten thousand square kilometers of fixed wire technology are expected to complement the coverage.
About AT&T Latin America
AT&T Latin America (Nasdaq: ATTL - news) is a U.S.-based provider of advanced communications services with strong in-country presence in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Today, the company has more than 1,100 employees and provides advanced last-mile voice and data connectivity in key business markets in the five countries. As of June 2000, AT&T Latin America's high- speed fiber network reached more than 3,000 metropolitan route kilometers or 95,000 fiber kilometers, covering 11 principal metropolitan areas. The company offers broadband communications services including data, Internet, voice, video-conferencing and electronic commerce services, over a common ATM/IP-based platform. For more information, visit AT&T Latin America's web site at attla.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The foregoing statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause AT&T Latin America and FirstCom's actual results or outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated and discussed in this press release. Except for historical information contained in this press release, the matters discussed contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which readers are urged to read carefully in assessing the forward-looking statements contained herein.
SOURCE: AT&T Latin America |
