WorldPort and Lucent Technologies Sign Agreement to Implement
World's First Uniform Global IP Network
PR Newswire, Tuesday, July 21, 1998 at 15:31
Lucent to Supply Internet Protocol (IP) and Intelligent Network Equipment,
Software and Services
ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- WorldPort
Communications, a rapidly growing next-generation global telecommunications
carrier based in Atlanta, GA, and Lucent Technologies, one of the world's
leading communications equipment suppliers, today signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to design, implement and maintain an Internet protocol
(IP)-based worldwide network.
This global, integrated IP-backbone network will be the first in the world
to use IP technology uniformly across the entire network to provide enhanced
voice and data services.
In a trial expected to begin in October of 1998, the first phase of the
network roll-out will establish a link between locations in the United States
and EnerTel, WorldPort's operating subsidiary in the Netherlands, to carry IP
traffic for Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
After the initial trial, the network will be deployed across major cities
in Europe, including points of presence (POPs) in the U.K., the Netherlands,
Germany and France. WorldPort will utilize its operations in the Netherlands
Belgium, Denmark, as a European Regional Gateway between the countries in
Europe and between Europe and the rest of the world.
In the final stage, the network will be rolled-out globally, linking
cities across The Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and The Middle East.
WorldPort has selected Lucent to deliver the solution on a turnkey basis.
Lucent will provide its line of revolutionary IP products, including the new
PacketStar(TM) 64000 IP Switch, which allows carriers to offer multiple tiers
of service at a range of prices. The network will also incorporate Lucent's
Intelligent Network solution to provide enhanced services for voice and data.
"We're extremely pleased that Lucent is our technology partner in this
effort," said Jim Hendrickson, vice president, Network Strategy, WorldPort.
"We believe this network design puts us on the leading edge of network
technology and gives us a competitive advantage in the marketplace."
The network will initially carry fax and voice services over IP for ISPs.
In the second phase, the network will provide value-added services like IP-
Virtual Private Network (IP-VPN) services for ISPs and large multinational
corporations.
Extensive support for the network will be provided by Lucent's Data
Networking Competence Centers in the Netherlands, France and the U.K. Services
provided by Lucent will include consulting, planning, installation,
integration, network operations and maintenance.
"We're very excited about this opportunity. This confirms that Lucent can
develop and deliver a total Internet solution for its customers around the
world -- many of whom are getting increased demand for reliable Internet
services," said Eric Van Amerongen, president and CEO, Lucent, Europe, Middle
East and Africa.
WorldPort is moving aggressively to expand its global network
capabilities. Earlier this year, it acquired EnerTel N.V., one of the major
alternative telecommunications services providers in the Netherlands. Lucent
is already providing equipment to expand EnerTel's high-capacity 17,000 fiber-
kilometer (10,500 mile), nationwide network. Lucent will also supply the
transmission equipment and Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)
system to link the EnerTel network to the WorldPort global network.
WorldPort's strategy includes offering a strong mix of network products
and transport capabilities utilizing the most efficient and highest quality
mix of traditional circuit-switched voice services and emerging packet
transmission technologies. The company intends to install Internet backbone
and Internet gateway equipment at its international points of presence (POPs)
in the U.S., Europe and Latin America and intends to utilize IP as a primary
transmission protocol between the POPs by the end of 1998.
WorldPort Communications, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, GA (USA) is The
Next Generation Carrier's Carrier providing international long distance
services to The Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and The Middle East. The
company is deploying a seamless global network that provides least-cost
interconnectivity and high capacity bandwidth products for voice, data, video
and Internet traffic to long distance carriers, multi-national corporate
customers, distributors and Internet service providers. WorldPort offers
customers a true end-to-end solution by routing traffic through a seamless
system of undersea fiber optic network cables, advanced circuit and packet
switches and by routing traffic through high efficiency gateways in strategic
markets worldwide. WorldPort is expanding its global network reach through
internal business development, acquisitions and international strategic
alliances.
In the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, Lucent has approximately
15,000 employees at 98 locations in 26 countries. Ten of Lucent's 11 business
units are represented in the region, in addition to the company's research and
development arm, Bell Laboratories. Bell Labs has a presence in 10 countries
across the region.
Lucent Technologies designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public
and private networks, communications systems and software, data networking
systems, business telephone systems and microelectronics components. Lucent
has approximately 130,000 employees worldwide. For more information about
Lucent Technologies, visit the company's web site at lucent.com.
This press release includes statements which may constitute forward
looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from the forward looking statements. Factors which would cause or contribute
to such differences include, but are not limited to factors detailed in the
Company's Securities arid Exchange Commission filings. |
