FLAG Telecom awards Alcatel a contract for a DWDM submarine
network in Asia
The network will connect Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan and will
complete the pan-Asian multi-terabit ring being developed by Level 3 and
FLAG Telecom (900 million US)
Paris, 9th January 2001 -Alcatel, world leader in intelligent optical networking, has been
awarded a contract by FLAG Telecom to design, manufacture and install a DWDM submarine
cable network linking Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan (FWACS). This link will form the
Western leg of a new six fiber pair, multi-terabit pan-Asian ring network (see map).
Level 3's North Asian Cable System (NACS), connecting Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan
- also being installed by Alcatel -will form the Eastern leg of the new network. Level 3 will
also have three fiber pairs on the new system, which will be referred to as 'Tiger'. FLAG
Telecom's three fiber pairs on the new system will be branded FNAL (FLAG North Asian
Loop). The diverse ring system will be over 10,000 kilometres in length and will be managed
and operated by FLAG Telecom. Total cost of the entire system is estimated to be
approximately US$900 million.
The Hong Kong-Japan-South Korea cable is based on dense wavelength division multiplexing
technology (DWDM), and the system is designed to provide optimal capacity at 3.84Tbit/s,
carried by 64 wavelengths at 10Gbit/s on six fiber pairs. Alcatel has carried out several
successful demonstrations with FLAG Telecom to prove Alcatel's capability to handle a
transmission of 68 wavelengths at 10Gbit/s on a loop over 6,600 km.
Alcatel will provide a full turnkey network, encompassing all activities from design to
installation and comprising wet and dry transmission equipment. In addition, a common
network management system for both the new network and the current NACS system will be
integrated to provide a single monitoring and control point for the entire cable network.
Using the existing liaisons from Japan to the U.S., this new submarine loop will allow
high-speed connections within Asia. It will provide access to the United States via Japan,
serving as a feeder in the Asia-Pacific region to carry the traffic to the most demanding
countries of the region.
The network is to be constructed from two segments, connecting the submarine stations of
Wada in Japan, Pusan in Korea and Hong Kong in China. The total length of the system will
span approximately 5,000 km. The construction of the Eastern link of this network is at an
advanced stage and the cable landing in Hong Kong has already been successfully
completed. The two networks together will benefit from a totally secured ring configuration
with full redundancy, ensuring the users total security for their data and voice traffic, over a
distance of about 10,000 km.
"We are pleased to have signed this new contract with Alcatel and to continue our close
cooperation with them," said Andrés B. Bande, Chairman and CEO, FLAG Telecom. "This is an
area of the world where the demand for Internet transportation is soaring and the
development of a North Asian Loop has been an important part of our network expansion
plan. We now expect to have terabit connectivity between major Asian cities significantly
ahead of our competition."
"We are already delivering, ahead of schedule, the Eastern leg of this new cable system in
the booming region of Asia. We are delighted to complete the entire project", said Jean
Godeluck, President of Alcatel's submarine networks activities. "Continuation of our long term
co-operation with FLAG Telecom and Level 3 allows us to anticipate the entire project and
deliver the system on time. This network is an extremely good example of the completely
tailored solutions that we can propose to our customers in terms of location, capacity and
architecture. Furthermore, this contract proves that we're continuing to reinforce our
presence in the exploding market of the Asia-Pacific region."
About FLAG Telecom
FLAG Telecom (Nasdaq: FTHL; LSE: FTL) is a leading independent global carriers' carrier
providing an innovative range of products and services to the international carrier community,
Application Service Providers (ASPs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across a global
network platform optimized to support the next generation of IP over optical data networks.
Network Services is a growing part of the FLAG Telecom business portfolio and is expected
to generate recurring revenues for the company. Its enhanced range of products and
services enables companies across the globe to innovate and thrive in the new e-economy.
FLAG Telecom has established IP gateways in San Francisco, New York, London, Tokyo,
Madrid and Cairo. Additional POPs are located in Hong Kong and Seoul and Singapore is
expected to be added to the network shortly.
The FLAG Europe-Asia cable stretches from the UK to Japan and entered commercial service
in November 1997. FLAG Atlantic-1 (FA-1), the world's first dual transoceanic terabit cable
system, is currently under construction and is scheduled to enter service in Q1 2001. FLAG
Pacific-1 is the longest transoceanic DWDM system announced to date and is expected to
enter service in 2002.
Principal shareholders in FLAG Telecom are: Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) (formerly
Bell Atlantic and GTE) (USA) and Dallah Al Barakah Group (Saudi Arabia). For further
information, visit www.flagtelecom.com.
About Level 3
Level 3 (Nasdaq:LVLT) is a global communications and information services company
offering a wide selection of IP-based services including broadband transport, colocation
services, submarine transmission services and the industry's first Softswitch based
services. Level 3 offers services primarily to communications intensive companies, which
deliver their services over the Level 3 Network. Its Web address is www.Level3.com.
About Alcatel
Alcatel is the only vendor to master all optical network elements, from optical components,
optical fibers and DWDM systems to core routers and network intelligence, and from
terrestrial to submarine solutions. Alcatel is also the only company to provide both terrestrial
and marine services for the installation and maintenance of global, seamless optical
networks.
According to RHK's 2000 study, Alcatel holds the number two position in global optical
transport market with 20% market share, distancing itself from all other competitors. RHK also
reported that Alcatel reaffirms its number one position in submarine networks with 41%
worldwide market share. Moreover, Alcatel claims to be the world leader in total terrestrial
and submarine DWDM systems, in digital cross-connects, which contain the enabling
technology for operators to offer high bandwidth services, and in SDH networks.
Alcatel's optics business comprises terrestrial and submarine transmission systems, fiber
optics and optical components. Alcatel has launched a new class of Alcatel stock which is
intended to track the performance of Alcatel Optronics, the Company's optical component
business.
Alcatel is the world leader in delivering full turnkey submarine network solutions and
services. Alcatel leads this industry in terms of:
having the highest sold capacity up to 8.4 Tbit/s for the long-haul systems and 3.6 Tbit/s for
the short-haul ones, using the latest DWDM technology;
having the largest manufacturing capacity at 85,000 km per year strategically located around
the Globe;
managing 11 dedicated purposed-designed vessels for a tight control on the delivery
schedule, including marine maintenance.
Current contracts, worth US$ 5.8+ billion, include the most advanced undersea networks in
the world today: 360americas and FLAG Atlantic-1 systems in the Atlantic, the 360pacific,
FLAG Pacifc-1, Japan-US and Southern Cross transpacific systems, and the MAC and
MAYA-1 systems in the Americas and the SAT-3 around Africa.
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
Contact press@www.alcatel.com |
