Another press release. Let's hope this helps keep us above the 50ma.
Pat
WIC CONNEXUS SELECTS NEWBRIDGE NETWORKS AND ALCATEL FOR
WORLD'S LARGEST LMCS BUILD-OUT
(August 19, 1998 - Toronto, Canada) John Lacey, President
and CEO of WIC Western International Communications Ltd.,
announced today that WIC Connexus has selected both
Newbridge Networks Corporation and Alcatel to be the
Company's key equipment supplier for its $450-$500 million
national local multipoint communications system (LMCS)
infrastructure. Canada's largest advanced, wireless,
broadband telecommunications network will be rolled out in
all regions of Canada, beginning in Toronto in the first
quarter of 1999.
Terence Matthews, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Newbridge Networks, said, "The award-winning Newbridge
broadband wireless access solution will enable Connexus to
provide advanced telecommunications services to a broad
range of customers. Our solution provides LMCS/LMDS
wireless operators with integrated multiservices access,
large scale network and service management, connectivity for
data, Internet, voice and video traffic over the air that
can be delivered worldwide."
"The WIC Connexus advanced network represents the genesis
of the 28 GHz wireless access market. The intense technical
and engineering assessment conducted by WIC Connexus
validates the Alcatel and Newbridge solution for providers
of point-to-multipoint wireless access," said Dave Kimzey,
VP and GM of Alcatel's Fixed Wireless Networks business
unit. "We are pleased that WIC Connexus has chosen our
broadband wireless access solution to provide high-speed
data and voice services to their customers."
WIC Connexus' wireless base station points-of-presence
(POPs) will be equipped with Newbridge's industry-leading
MainStreetXpressT 36170 Multiservices Switches and Alcatel
radio technology, enabling Connexus to extend broadband
services associated with a fiber network into the wireless
environment. The customer premise equipment (CPE) provides
Connexus with the ability to deliver high-speed Internet
access, data services, telephone traffic, and
videoconferencing, as well as value-added applications such
as encryption, distance learning and tele-medicine, video
monitoring and Voice over IP (Internet protocol). The
MainStreetXpress 46020 Network Manager, a powerful network
and service management system capable of managing up to
5,000 nodes in a single management domain, will provide
end-to-end management and monitoring of the wireless and
wireline portions of the network. Newbridge will also
provide the CPE with
interfaces for a wide range of in-building service
connections.
Alcatel will lend their 50 years of radio experience to
engineer and furnish the radio frequency (RF) portions of
the network, including the base station and CPE radios, and
point-to-point microwave intercell links.
"Both Newbridge and Alcatel bring world class products and
expertise to our business. In our estimation, Newbridge and
Alcatel are best positioned to deliver the broadband
services for the business market we will be addressing,"
said William A. Dunbar, President and CEO of WIC Connexus.
"We firmly believe that this selection will further advance
Canada's telecommunications infrastructure well into the
21st century."
"WIC Connexus' selection of Newbridge and Alcatel
represents a major step forward in terms of
telecommunications products and services in Canada," said
John Manley, Minister of Industry. "The broadband wireless
industry holds much potential, and today's announcement
confirms the momentum of WIC Connexus together with its LMCS
suppliers, positioning them well to serve markets
domestically and internationally."
John Lacey said, "WIC Connexus has played a pioneering role
in developing LMCS to the point where we can now begin to
apply the technology in a commercial sense. We welcome both
Newbridge and Alcatel as our partners in building Canada's
LMCS networks."
WIC Connexus holds LMCS spectrum licences which allow it to
reach approximately 50% of the local telecommunications
business market across Canada with its cost-effective
wireless "last mile" solution. In particular, Connexus will
be well positioned to offer bundled voice and broadband data
services.
Newbridge Networks (NYSE: NN; TSE: NNC) designs,
manufactures, markets and services networking solutions to
organizations in more than 100 countries. Newbridge
leverages its relationship with 16 Newbridge Affiliate
companies and strategic alliances with Siemens and 3Com
Corporation to deliver seamless, end-to-end solutions.
Newbridge customers include the world's 250 largest
telecommunications service
providers and more than 10,000 corporations, government
organizations and other institutions. Founded in 1986, the
Company employs more than 6,000 people on five continents.
News and information are available at www.newbridge.com.
A world leader in telecommunications systems and equipment,
as well as related cables and components activities, Alcatel
operates in over 130 countries. Alcatel provides complete
solutions and services to operators, service providers,
enterprises and consumers, ranging from backbone networks to
user terminals. For more information, visit Alcatel on
Internet : alcatel.com or the us web site at
www.usa.alcatel.com.
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