Alcatel heeft een onderhoudsovereenkomst getekend met de Atlantic Cable Repair and Maintenance Agreement (ACMA 2004) voor het onderhoud van de telecommunicatie-systemen in de Atlantische Oceaan. Voor deze onderhoudsactiviteiten zal Alcatel twee speciale schepen inzetten. De overeenkomst heeft een looptijd van drie jaar en de activiteiten zullen begin 2004 van start gaan. De ACMA is een coöperatieve non-profit organisatie bestaande uit meer dan vijftig telecombedrijven, verdeeld over alle continenten rond de Atlantische Oceaan. Deze organisatie verzorgt het onderhoud op zee voor de overgrote meerderheid van onderzeekabels en -netwerken, in totaal zo'n 150.000 kilometer aan kabels. Alcatel zal één schip uit haar eigen vloot inzetten voor de ACMA. Het tweede schip zal door Alcatel worden ingehuurd van France Telecom (Marine).
Onderzeekabels vormen de data-snelwegen van de moderne zakenwereld; ze verbinden continenten waarbij hun robuustheid en betrouwbaarheid de best denkbare garantie bieden tegen allerhande onzekerheden. Alcatel is wereldwijd marktleider op gebied van optische netwerken en heeft ruime ervaring in het beheer en onderhoud van dergelijke netwerken. Hierdoor kan de ACMA haar klanten een snelle en betrouwbare service garanderen ingeval van kabelbreuken en andere storingen, zelfs onder de meest ongunstige weersomstandigheden.
Voor nadere informatie:
Alcatel Telecom Nederland/Eva Fodor
T. 070 - 3079 815
E. eva.fodor@alcatel.nl
Het volledige persbericht:
Alcatel Selected by ACMA for Maintenance Contract of Submarine Cable in the Atlantic Ocean
Paris, January 21, 2003 – Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA), the world leader in optical networking, today announced it has been awarded a three-year contract to provide two dedicated cable vessels to the Atlantic Cable Repair and Maintenance Agreement (ACMA 2004) in order to meet the need for undersea systems maintenance. Service will begin in early 2004.
The ACMA is a cooperative non-profit arrangement consisting of more than fifty telecommunications companies on all the continents that border the Atlantic Ocean. It provides for at-sea maintenance services for the vast majority of underwater telecoms cables, more than 150,000 kilometers of cables, crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Alcatel will supply one vessel from its own fleet to ACMA. While the second vessel will be provided to Alcatel by France Telecom (Marine), on a subcontract basis.
Undersea cables are the data highways of modern business: connecting continents, their robustness and reliability are key to withstanding any expected hazards. Combining its system knowledge and transmission expertise together with its leading position in maintenance services, Alcatel will allow the ACMA to ensure its customers rapid and effective intervention for system reconfiguration in case of cable failure, while minimizing downtime risks and maximizing savings.
“ACMA’s commitment is to delivering the highest quality maintenance, even in the most adverse weather conditions,” said William Kolb, Chairman of the ACMA. “Alcatel’s proven expertise for the maintenance of submarine systems will provide ACMA with the grade of responsiveness required to provide security to our member companies."
“We are pleased to support ACMA with our advanced vessels, equipment and highly-qualified crew in the delivery of efficient repair services, ” stated Jean Godeluck, President of Alcatel’s submarine network activities. “Alcatel's comprehensive track record in the optical submarine segment makes it a reliable partner for operators, who can take advantage of our integrated system design, implementation and customized maintenance services.”
The agreement further confirms Alcatel’s top position in marine installation and maintenance, which builds on several projects awarded over the years by operators and service providers to connect the world’s most important communications crossroads, including the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Asia Pacific region.
About ACMA
The ACMA provides for the repair and maintenance of submarine cable systems installed in the Atlantic Ocean and because it is a non-profit cooperative, it provides this service to its members at cost, making it economically very attractive. The ACMA traces its origin back over thirty years and is considered by many to be the premier provider of submarine cable system repair services in the world today.
About Alcatel
According to leading telecom market research firm RHK, Alcatel was the 2001 world leader in global optical transport – encompassing terrestrial and submarine applications – with 17% market share, in terrestrial optical transport with 14.2% market share and in submarine optical transport with 41% market share, an unprecedented achievement in the telecom industry. Alcatel’s optics business comprises optical components, optical fibers, SDH/SONET and DWDM systems, cross-connects, microwave radio links, network intelligence, and services for both terrestrial and submarine applications.
Alcatel designs, develops and builds innovative and competitive communications networks, enabling carriers, service providers and enterprises to deliver any type of content, such as voice, data and multimedia, to any type of consumer, anywhere in the world. Relying on its leading and comprehensive products and solutions portfolio, stretching from end-to-end optical infrastructures, fixed and mobile networks to broadband access, Alcatel's customers can focus on optimizing their service offerings and revenue streams. With sales of EURO 25 billion in 2001, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com
ACMA Press Contacts
W. F. Kolb, ACMA Chairman
wkolb@att.com
Rogan Hollis, C&W plc
rogan.hollis@plc.cwplc.com
Alcatel Press Contacts
Laurent de Segonzac / HQ
Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 15 04
laurent.de-segonzac@alcatel.fr
Melina Georgitsis
Tel : +33 (0)1 64 49 26 95
melina.georgitsis@alcatel.fr
Alcatel Investors Relations
Claire Pedini
Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 93
claire.pedini@alcatel.com
Laurent Geoffroy
Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 50 27
Laurent.geoffroy@alcatel.com
Pascal Bantégnie
Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 52 20
Pascal.bantegnie@alcatel.com
Peter Campbell
Tel : +1 972 519 4347
Peter.campbell@alcatel.com
Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane
Tel : +1 703 668 3571
Tel : +33 (1) 40761327
charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.com