Digitel Signs Up Alcatel for a $60M Optical Transmission Network; The First Backbone Network for Broadband Capacity in the Philippines
BusinessWire, 09/27/2000 05:41
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 27, 2000--Digitel Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel), the largest fixed-line operator in Luzon - the biggest island of the Philippines archipelago, has chosen Alcatel (NYSE:ALA), the world leader in optical networking, as turnkey supplier to deploy its DWDM and SDH backbone network. This 60 MUSD landmark project, the first of its kind in the country, will leverage on Alcatel's state-of-the-art technologies to provide broadband services along the entire Digitel network.
Alcatel will supply, install and commission its powerful Optinex(TM) DWDM and SDH systems. The DWDM solution will deliver huge capacity and transparency by optically combining signals of different wavelengths, while the SDH one will provide rich networking features, especially in terms of network protection and manageability. The network will be capable of handling one million simultaneous multimedia (voice and Internet) connections.
The backbone will be managed by Alcatel's integrated network management system that ensures an efficient and cost-effective traffic control and routing throughout all network levels.
As part of the deal, Alcatel will also install fiber optic cables running 1,600 kilometers across Luzon.
"The project will greatly enhance our delivery of voice and data communications," said William Pamintuan, Digitel Senior Vice President-Legal and official spokesperson. "We envision the project to support and transport various multimedia and broadband services throughout Luzon, catering to a spectrum of future customer requirements with ultra-high bandwidth capacity. Alcatel's turnkey solution will also give us the asset to steadily increase the network capacity as traffic grows for the next twenty years."
"Implementation speed, reliability and customer service are fundamental features in our approach to the market," stated Jean-Marie Vansteenkiste, President of Alcatel's terrestrial networks activities. "This new high-capacity backbone will allow Digitel to benefit from a concrete competitive advantage in the new economy and allow its customers to access a wide suite of advanced multimedia services."
About Optinex
The Optinex family of carrier-class transmission solutions is designed with distinctive and enduring features that enable operators to offer a full range of services to business and residential users, including the newest IP-based services with guaranteed IP Quality of Service (QoS). IP and ATM grooming and forwarding functionality is introduced into Optinex Multiservice Nodes and Gateways, thus drastically reducing the amount of investments needed to build up a transmission network and to operate it. The current terrestrial Optinex product range also includes wide-band optical amplifiers and Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing systems (DWDM) with high-channel counts and very high-performance applications, able to multiplex up to 160 channels - upgradable to 240 - with optical tributaries from 100Mbit/s to 10Gbit/s. Within this range, Optinex Optical network Systems are capable of reaching up to 1.6Tbit/s. of capacity. All the above mentioned systems are managed by a single, fully integrated Network management System enabling efficient traffic control and routing throughout all network levels, from local up to intercontinental links and from submarine to terrestrial ones.
About Alcatel
In November 1999, RHK, a leading telecommunications analyst firm, said that Alcatel holds a 23% 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 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: Alcatel
Press Contacts
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