Alcatel and Bell Canada Power North America's Fastest
Growing Broadband Access Offering
DALLAS, TEXAS--Alcatel-- MARCH 13, 2002 - 10:31 EST
Alcatel DSL solution enables Canadian Internet service provider to
reach 85 percent of customers by year-end
Alcatel (NYSE: ALA), the world leader in broadband access, today
announced the renewal of a four-year agreement to provide digital
subscriber line (DSL) technology to Bell Canada, Canada's leading
Internet service provider (ISP).
The Alcatel solution enables Bell Canada to offer broadband access
to up to 85 percent of its customers in Canada by year-end,
positioning the ISP as the widest-reaching in North America. The
agreement includes the Alcatel 7300 Advanced Services Access
Manager (ASAM) - the world's most widely deployed broadband access
platform.
Canada is a global leader in broadband adoption, with 16 percent
of households having broadband access - a penetration rate second
only to South Korea. Bell Canada, deploying an Alcatel solution
since 1997, has emerged as a frontrunner in broadband access with
the most comprehensive business and residential ADSL (asymmetrical
digital subscriber line) network in North America. More than
130,000 new high-speed customers were added in the last quarter of
2001 and Bell Canada's subscriber base has increased by 125
percent over the past 12 months. In fact, booming demand for
broadband services has seen Bell Canada move into a top five
position among DSL service providers.
"Bell Canada continues to expand its Internet services, and with
our extended agreement with Alcatel, we look forward to providing
more homes and businesses in Canada with reliable high-speed
Internet access," says Ian Highet, vice president, Network
Technology, Bell Canada. "With Alcatel's world-leading technology,
Bell Canada can add to our current Internet services and going
forward, meet the growing demand for both DSL access and online
applications."
Beyond the high-speed services of today, DSL technology will
enable a wide array of new Internet Protocol based services to the
home and business. Working with a number of global partners,
Alcatel is developing the next wave of broadband entertainment and
business solutions, including instant video on demand,
personalized television and online gaming.
"Alcatel's 7300 Advanced Services Access Manager is the right
technology for service providers such as Bell Canada, who need to
meet the high-speed access needs of today's customers while
preparing for the evolution of profitable broadband entertainment
and business solutions," says Hubert de Pesquidoux, chief
executive officer, Alcatel Canada. "Alcatel's global leadership in
end-to-end broadband access solutions will ensure Bell Canada
remains a leader in high-speed Internet access, and well
positioned to deliver new broadband services to its customers."
About Alcatel
Alcatel designs, develops and builds innovative and competitive
communications networks, enabling carriers, service providers and
enterprises to deliver any type of content, such as voice, data
and multimedia, to any type of consumer, anywhere in the world.
Relying on its leading and comprehensive products and solutions
portfolio, stretching from end-to-end optical infrastructures,
fixed and mobile networks to broadband access, Alcatel's customers
can focus on optimizing their service offerings and revenue
streams. With sales of Euro 25 billion in 2001 and 99,000
employees, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more
information, www.alcatel.com
About Alcatel DSL
For more information on Alcatel's DSL Solution,
www.alcatel.com/dsl
About Bell Canada
Bell Canada, Canada's national leader for communications in the
Internet world, provides connectivity to residential and business
customers through wired and wireless voice and data
communications, high speed and wireless Internet access,
IP-broadband services, e-business solutions, local and long
distance phone and directory services. Bell Canada is owned by BCE
Inc of Montreal (80 percent) and by SBC Communications Inc. of San
Antonio, Texas (20 percent). For more information please visit
www.bell.ca. |
