NTL Selects Nortel Networks for US$400 million Network Development
LONDON, April 21 /PRNewswire/ - As part of its ongoing push to create the UK's most advanced communications network, NTL has announced the selection of Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT/TSE: NTL) as its strategic supplier in a major network enhancement program worth up to US$400 million over seven years. The move will see the two companies working together to build on NTL's existing multi-million dollar fiber network to develop an integrated, national architecture capable of delivering virtually unlimited capacity for increasingly bandwidth-hungry applications and customers.
NTL already provides one of the broadest ranges of communications services in the UK from telephony, broadcast and mobile radio to Internet, interactive and other applications. This latest investment will ensure that NTL maintains its position as a leader in digital communications, by enabling it to offer its customers access to an 'open' multi-service network unconstrained by technology. The enhanced network will also serve to unify the established NTL core backbone with recent acquisitions such as Eastern Group Telecoms (EGT) Diamond Cable, ComTel, Comcast and Cambridge Cable.
NTL is re-affirming its commitment and desire to be the best communications company in the UK,'' says Peter Black, NTL's managing director of Network Services. ''Nortel Networks shares our vision for a digital future built on a customer-centric philosophy. Both companies have many synergies and we are determined to make a positive impact on each other's business growth and development - keeping us ahead of our respective competitors.''
The new collaboration with Nortel Networks will enable NTL to take the next step in its drive to deliver the UK's first fully optical communications backbone and meet the needs of an increasingly demanding marketplace by offering increased bandwidth without compromising service efficiency. Voice, data, vision, Internet and other digital services are to be available to customers, with IP delivered right to the edge of the network.
With Nortel Networks' help, we will deliver packet-based services direct to the customer. This enhanced efficiency will allow us to offer very high bandwidth services. The significant cost savings that will be achieved gives us an opportunity to pass these advantages on to our customers,'' adds Peter Black.
To build the first phase of the new network architecture, Nortel Networks has been chosen to provide solutions, technology and support across key strategic points of presence throughout the UK. The new network will provide NTL with DMS-100 transit switches to consolidate existing voice networks. Further optimization will be provided by Nortel Networks' industry-leading CVX 1800 Carrier Class Access Switch portfolio. These together are to provide a Unified Network for voice and Internet services.
Gary R. Donahee, president, Carrier Solutions Europe, Nortel Networks, adds, ''The alliance with NTL will allow us to build an advanced communications infrastructure - unifying voice, multimedia and data traffic. The new network will enable NTL to offer its clients the benefits of truly integrated voice and IP services.''
NTL Incorporated is a UK leading integrated communications company, offering alternative telecommunications solutions, broadcast and transmission services. NTL is a NASDAQ and EASDAQ listed public company, with over 10,000 employees and its head office in Farnborough, Hampshire. Capabilities within NTL centre on its 'Digital TeleNetwork'; the only national fiber-optic network in the UK with the high capacity necessary to deliver multiple services to business and residential customers, including telecommunications, internet services, mobile radio communications, international satellite links and visual communications. |
