Wednesday November 19, 7:01 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Coherent Wins Major Belgacom Mobile Contract
ASHBURN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 1997--Leading voice enhancement and echo cancellation specialist,
Coherent Communications Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: CCSC - news) has won a three-year contract with Belgacom
Mobile for its Proximus network, involving the deployment of over 1200 groups of echo cancellation in the first phase.
Coherent has provided a complete turnkey installation of its EC-6000 Series 2 Digital Echo Cancellers, which are deployed
throughout the Proximus GSM digital cellular network in Belgium. Providing market-leading voice quality, the network went
live in September 1997, operating with Siemens switches located at six sites around the country.
Commenting for Belgacom Mobile, Steve Pierson, Chief Technical Officer, said: ''By installing Coherent cancellers, we are
putting ourselves in a strong position to meet our customers' requirements for an echo-free network. Our subscribers will gain
from an improved service, thanks to the performance of the EC-6000s in the face of acoustic echo, which in turn will provide
us with the market advantage we are seeking. We conducted a market-wide survey and performance tests of available
equipment, identifying that Coherent is one of very few companies with products for this particular application. Testing
confirmed our initial view that the cancellers provided the best match to our requirements.''
Belgacom Mobile N.V. is the result of the association between Belgacom and Airtouch International, and has established a
reputation for quality and market leadership. The operator has established two networks - the MOB2 analog network, and the
Proximus digital GSM network. With more than 600,000 customers and 2,600 points of sale, Proximus has a strong market
position because of extensive strategic network planning and constant development and optimization of the network and
associated equipment. A commitment to extend the coverage to as many users as possible is matched by continual investment
to guarantee the highest attainable voice quality.
The Proximus contract represents a significant order for Coherent, as President and COO David Powell elaborates:
''Belgacom Mobile's recognition that our superior echo cancellation is the key to competitive advantage for its network
underlines the importance of voice quality, particularly in applications such as this where acoustic echo presents a major
problem. We are very pleased to have Belgacom Mobile as a valued customer.''
Coherent has established itself as a leading provider of echo cancellation for GSM cellular operators, supplying more channels
than any other echo canceller manufacturer worldwide. The Company has focused on developing a new generation of high
performance echo cancellers, designed to handle both the hybrid and acoustic echo present on digital cellular networks. It is
one of very few companies whose product expertise spans both types of echo in cellular networks. This experience is directly
translated into its wide range of echo cancellers, plus application-specific software that addresses specific network problems.
Coherent's focus is to give telcos, PTTs and network operators the tools to maximize network performance and voice quality,
on wireline and wireless networks, across the full range of applications. As highlighted by the Belgacom Mobile/Proximus
contract, the Company specializes in providing a complete turnkey service, encompassing all aspects of design, supply,
installation and maintenance of the cancellers and associated network equipment.
Coherent's EC-6000 Series 2 Digital Echo Canceller provides advanced echo control for both wireline telephone networks
and wireless digital systems. Designed to exceed current ITU-T standards (G.168), Coherent's products provide a flexible
operating platform which can be tailored for a range of applications and network environments. At their core is a combination
of Coherent's state of the art ASIC devices, patented Non-Linear Processor (NLP) techniques, as well as fast and stable
convergence (50mS for combined ERL and ERLE of 35dB) - prerequisites for modern network applications.
The EC-6000 Series 2 Digital Echo Canceller also supports Coherent's range of application-specific software, enhancing the
unit's adaptability for a wide range of problem-solving in different network situations. Software can be remotely downloaded
and upgraded, providing a versatile and cost-effective means of maintaining maximum operational flexibility. In addition, the
unit features local loopback facilities, extensive alarm reporting and self-test diagnostics, as well as significantly reduced power
consumption for improved performance and reduced heat generation.
Coherent Communications Systems Corporation is a worldwide leader in state of the art voice enhancement technology,
spanning echo cancellation platforms and associated network software. The company's products are used globally by major
wireless and wireline telecommunications companies and network operators, including AT&T Wireless, British Telecom,
Cable & Wireless, Cellular One, Cisco Systems, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom [NYSE:FTE - news], KDD, Mercury,
Nokia, NORTEL, Telia, and Telmex, among the extensive list. Coherent is a fully accredited ISO 9001 company, dedicated
to maintaining the highest quality standards. The company's US headquarters is located in Ashburn, Virginia, with European
activity conducted by Coherent Communications Systems Ltd, based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK.
Photo available upon request.
Also available via coherent.com |
