Portugal's NetRail Selects Alcatel's TeraLight(TM) Metro Optical Fiber
Alcatel to supply 40,000 km of optical fiber to upgrade NetRail's network
infrastructure
Paris, January 16, 2002 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA), world leader in intelligent
optical networking, today announced a supply agreement with NetRail, a telecom service
provider wholly owned by REFER, Portugal's Rail Infrastructure Manager. In the course of the
Portuguese telecommunications market's liberalization, NetRail is rapidly enhancing and upgrading
its existing network infrastructure. As NetRail's sole supplier, Alcatel will supply more than
40,000 kilometers of cabled optical fiber, including both Alcatel's TeraLight(TM) Metro and
standard singlemode fibers.
TeraLightTM Metro is Alcatel's Non-Zero Dispersion Shifted Fiber (NZ-DSF) optimized for
applications in networks covering distances between 70 and 200 kilometers. Designed for
operating in systems carrying densely packed data at high transmission rates, TeraLightTM Metro
features especially low attenuation, or signal loss. TeraLightTM Metro's efficient and cost saving
design allows it to carry optical transmissions without the need for adding several signal
regeneration or compensation devices.
Originally looking for multiple suppliers and for standard single mode fibers only, NetRail was
impressed by the high performance of TeraLight(TM) Metro and its potential to evolve with their
needs over time. Additionally, Alcatel's responsiveness and ability to meet NetRail's tight
deadlines were deciding factors in closing the deal.
"This agreement is an excellent validation of our new TeraLight(TM) Metro fiber, and the
excellence of Alcatel's overall capabilities and responsiveness", said Jacques Blanc, President
of Alcatel's optical fiber activities. "Our ability to provide innovative optical fiber solutions that can
be cost-effectively upgraded to meet the future bandwidth demand of our customers will ensure
that NetRail is well positioned in the Portuguese market."
TeraLight(TM) Metro is based on Alcatel's proven TeraLight(TM) technology, which has set many
transmission capacity records, including 10.2Tbit/s transmission at 40Gbit/s. Alcatel introduced
TeraLight(TM), its leading-edge Non-Zero Dispersion Shifted Fiber, over two years ago, and it
has been successfully deployed by a number of major operators globally. When linked with
Alcatel's TeraLightTM Ultra, an NZ-DS fiber for long-haul applications, TeraLightTM Metro
provides network operators with a transparent transition between network segments, simplifying
network design. TeraLight(TM) products are fully compliant with ITU's G.655 standard.
About NetRail
NETRAIL is a commercial entity for the deployment, management, operation and exploitation of
Telecom infrastructures and systems, as well Telecommunication services provision. NetRail is
currently installing an optical fiber network and an STM-16 backbone along 2.500 Km of the
Portuguese territory. Contact: Mr. Alberto Passos, Tel: + 351 21 891 04 15 - e-mail:
atpassos@refertelecom.pt
About Alcatel
Alcatel is the only vendor to master all optical network elements, from optical components, optical
fibers, DWDM systems and microwave radio links to core routers and network intelligence, and
from terrestrial to submarine solutions. Alcatel is also the only company to provide both terrestrial
and marine services for the installation and maintenance of global, seamless optical networks.
According to RHK's 2000 study, Alcatel holds the number two position in global optical transport
market with 20% market share, distancing itself from other competitors. RHK also reported that
Alcatel reaffirms its number one position in submarine networks with 41% worldwide market
share. Moreover, Alcatel claims to be the world leader in total terrestrial and submarine DWDM
systems, in digital cross-connects, which contain the enabling technology for operators to offer
high bandwidth services, in SDH networks and in microwave radio links. Alcatel's optics
business comprises terrestrial and submarine transmission systems, fiber optics, optical
components and microwave radio links. Alcatel has launched a new class of Alcatel stock,
which is intended to track the performance of Alcatel Optronics, the Company's optical
component business.
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 sales of EURO 27 billion in 2000 and 110,000 employees, Alcatel operates in
more than 130 countries.
Contact press@www.alcatel.com |
