Cable & Wireless Optus Selects Alcatel for Australia's first commercially
available broadband wireless access network
Cable & Wireless Optus subsidiary, Agility Networks, wins license one day
and begins service delivery the next using Alcatel's industry leading LMDS
solution
Paris, France- December 14, 2000 - Following successful trials, Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA
and NYSE: ALA) today announced that it has been selected by Cable & Wireless Optus as the
preferred supplier to provide its turnkey Alcatel LMDS (local multipoint distribution service)
broadband wireless access solution to wholly owned subsidiary, Agility Networks.
Agility Networks successfully bid for the 27 GHz spectrum license in an auction held by the
Australian Communications Authority in November. With an unprecedented speed of execution,
Agility used the Alcatel LMDS solution to roll out its service offering the following day. Services
enabled by the network include high-speed data applications such as Internet and a range of
multimedia services.
"Agility has certainly lived up to their name by capitalizing on the rapid
deployment and service delivery capabilities of Alcatel LMDS," said Jean-David
Calvet, Executive Vice-President, Fixed Wireless, Alcatel. "With products available now
for mass deployment, Alcatel is able to support the needs of progressive
service providers such as Agility."
"LMDS is an important element of our strategy, allowing us to provide
customers with a range of access technologies," explained Chris Hancock, Managing
Director, Data & Business Services, at Cable & Wireless Optus. "It will enable us to
directly connect many more customers to the Cable & Wireless Optus
network, bypassing the 'last mile' connectivity arrangements we have made in
the past."
"We got spectrum one day and delivered services the next, so we're
obviously very satisfied with Alcatel LMDS." said Mike Callen, General Manager of
Agility Networks. "We did our homework, extensively researching broadband
wireless vendors over the past year, and we chose Alcatel as the preferred
supplier due to the proven high quality of their products and their exceptional
deployment support."
With a network rollout plan that encompasses 50 locations over the next 12 months, Agility
currently has a fully operational LMDS network providing coverage in all eight capital cities and
four major regional centres, including: Sydney, Perth and Melbourne, as well as Dubbo,
Newcastle, Townsville and the Gold Coast. Agility will wholesale access services to Optus
and other carriers to complement their cable networks in the business districts of major and
regional cities.
About Alcatel
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. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet:
alcatel.com
Supporting Alcatel's leadership in the broadband access market -- including DSL and DLC --
Alcatel is currently the LMDS broadband wireless access market leader with over 6000 base
station sectors shipped and more than 100 customers in commercial and trial deployments.
Alcatel's success in LMDS broadband wireless access can be attributed to:
· Reliable, high-performance products available NOW for mass commercial deployment;
· Availability of end-to-end networking solutions including products for Core, Edge,
Transmission, and Network & Service management;
· Global turnkey deployment experience combined with strong local/in-country presence and
deployment support;
· Full range of pre- and post-licence support services, including business case analysis,
network design & engineering, and customised financing assistance when applicable.
The comprehensive Alcatel LMDS solution is a multiservice broadband wireless network
comprised of base station and customer premises equipment, and network and service
management.
About Cable and Wireless Optus
Cable & Wireless Optus is Australia's leading integrated communications company - serving
around four million customers each day. The company provides a broad range of
communications services including mobile, national and long distance services, local telephony,
business network services, internet and satellite services and pay television.
Since commencing operations in 1992, Cable & Wireless Optus has invested more than
AUS$7bn in the construction of fixed, mobile and satellite networks, including central business
district and suburban local access networks. These networks provide the company with an
advanced technology platform capable of delivering integrated communications, information
and entertainment services.
Cable & Wireless Optus is a member of the Cable & Wireless Group, a leader in global
communications operating in more than 70 countries around the world.
cwo.com.au
About Agility
Agility Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cable & Wireless Optus, operating
independently to offer fixed wireless access services to businesses.
Fixed wireless technology offers customers an alternative communication method, using radio
transmitters to send data signals through the air to receivers on buildings. This effectively
leaps the monopoly-operated "last mile", the last section of fibre optic cable or copper wire that
extends to the customers' premises. The advantage for the customer lies in increased data
speed, choice of services and competition in the market place.
Agility Networks operates in all Australian capital cities, as well as key regional centres. Its
charter includes the development of both current and future fixed wireless technology.
agility.net.au
Contact press@www.alcatel.com |
