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March 02, 1999 13:53
Viatel Completes Operational Interconnection with Belgacom and France Telecom
NEW YORK, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Viatel, Inc. (Nasdaq: VYTL), today announced that it had completed the first phase of operational interconnection with Belgacom and France Telecom (FT), the incumbent telecommunications operators in Belgium and France, respectively. Finalization of these interconnections assures Viatel's ability to originate and terminate national and international long-distance voice and data traffic throughout the existing national networks of all five European countries served by the company's Circe Pan-European Network.
"The establishment of live interconnections with these two national networks complements our existing arrangements with British Telecom, Deustche Telekom and KPN/PTT Telecom, and permits Viatel to provide customers with complete end-to-end long-distance services, at favorable rates," said Michael J. Mahoney, Viatel's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We intend to aggressively pursue the turn-up of additional interconnection points in France and Belgium, and the roll-out of voice and data services throughout these countries."
In France, the initial interconnection arrangements allow customers in the Greater Paris (Ile de France) region to originate and terminate calls throughout France and all 230 foreign countries and territories served by Viatel. Additional interconnections with the FT network to provide service to the Strasbourg and Amiens regions are expected to be completed in mid-1999. Negotiations are currently underway to add interconnection points in Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Nice and Nantes. Viatel already has network points of presence in a number of these cities.
In Belgium, operational interconnection has been completed in Brussels and Antwerp. Additional interconnection points in Ghent, Hasselt, Leuven, Mons, Namur, Kortrijk, Liege and Charleroi are expected to be completed by the end of the month.
In both Belgium and France, customers can access Viatel network services by dialing the same simple four-digit carrier code, "1623." In addition to standard voice telephony, Viatel will offer value-added services, including national freephone (0800), universal access numbers (070), and customized directory inquiry services in both countries. Last month, Viatel became one of the first new entrant carriers to offer competitive, leased-line services in Belgium.
Viatel recently announced the completion of construction on the first ring of its Circe Pan-European Network, a three-ring, 5,000+ route kilometer, next- generation, broadband infrastructure that will enable Viatel to provide voice telephony and advanced data services -- such as ATM, IP and frame relay -- supporting Internet, e-commerce and multimedia applications. The first Circe ring linking London, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Paris and Amiens will be ready for service on March 15th.
Viatel offers high-quality, competitively-priced, national and international long-distance services-primarily to end user customers, carriers and resellers in over 230 countries and territories worldwide. Viatel currently operates one of the largest pan-European networks, with international gateway switching centers in New York and London, network points of presence in over 37 European cities, a direct sales force in 12 Western European cities, and indirect sales outlets in more than 150 additional locations in Western Europe.
SOURCE Viatel, Inc.
/CONTACT: Glenn K. Davidson, Vice President, Corporate Communications &
External Affairs, or Cindy Glynn, Director of Investor Relations, both of
Viatel Inc., 212-350-9200/
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