ALCATEL TO SUPPLY A DWDM WET AND DRY OPTICAL NETWORK TO CONNECT
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN INTERNET USERS TO THE U.S.
The first DWDM network in the region
Paris, May 30, 2000 - Alcatel, the world leader in optical networking, and Mediterranean Nautilus,
a company under the control of Telecom Italia, have signed an ITP letter for a submarine and
terrestrial DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) network in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The repeatered system, named MED Nautilus 1 (MN1), will link, with a capacity close to 4 Tbit/s,
Italy, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, and will stretch across an approximately 7,000 km
long route. It will be connected to the U.S., allowing end-users to benefit from high-speed Internet
access.
Alcatel will provide a 6-fiber pair cable based on the very latest DWDM technology, offering 64
wavelength at 10 Gbit/s per fiber pair. Furthermore, the contract comprises the full submarine
system including, at each terminal station, the network management and the SDH terrestrial
transmission interface equipment up to STM-1. It is the first time that such a network is built in
Eastern Mediterranean, regarding the technology used - DWDM - and the capacity.
The entire network will be operational by second half of 2001.
"We are confident that Alcatel will provide us a state of the art network", stated Amos
Lasker, CEO Mediterranean Nautilus Ltd, a company whose activities are focused on the
Mediterranean area for the offering of city to city international connectivity for Internet, voice and
data as well as hosting services. "This system, together with the Telecom Italia worldwide
network, will permit Mediterranean Nautilus to accomplish the goal of facilitating Internet
explosion between the Eastern part of Mediterranean and all the main cities in Europe
and in the Americas".
"The selection of Alcatel to develop a new wet and dry network demonstrates once
more our world leadership in global optical networking," commented Christian Reinaudo,
President of Alcatel Optics. "We are once again breaking new ground for DWDM
technologies, this time in the Eastern Mediterranean. For Alcatel, it represents a new
opportunity to work again with Mediterranean Nautilus and its main shareholder, Telecom
Italia."
The self-healing ring will link the following landing points: Catania and Mazara del Vallo (or
Palermo, Italy), Alexandria (Egypt), Tel Aviv and Haifa (Israel), Yeroskipos (Cyprus), Istanbul (Turkey)
thanks to a branching unit off the coast of Crete, Chania (Greece.) Elettra, a well-known Italian
company dedicated to marine activities, that is fully owned by the Telecom Italia Group, will carry
out the marine survey and the cable laying operations.
About Mediterranean Nautilus
On may 18th, has been signed the agreement related to the constitution of Mediterranean Nautilus.
Telecom Italia will own 51% of the Capital. The remaining shares are divided among the Israelian
partners Aurec (9%), Clalcom (15%), Globescom (15%), Kama (10%).
Mediterranean Nautilus will provide a global telecommunications infrastructure and facilities
consisting of fiber optic network equipped with the "state of the art" technology which enable City to
City connections.
About Alcatel
In November 1999, RHK, a leading telecommunications analyst firm, said that Alcatel holds a 21%
share - the number one position - of the world's total transport market, which comprises submarine
and terrestrial transmission systems. RHK noted that Alcatel's market-leading 37% market share in
the submarine networks segment helped secure the top position in the total transport market. In
addition, RHK found that Alcatel commands a 37% share of the digital cross-connect systems (DCS)
segment. Cross-connect systems contain the enabling technology for operators to offer high
bandwidth services. Alcatel is also cited as the global leader in terms of DWDM market share for the
global market encompassing both terrestrial and submarine applications. 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 120,000
employees and sales of EURO 23 billion in 1999, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.
Contact press@www.alcatel.com |
