Paris, June 17, 2002 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA), the world leader in broadband access, today announced that it has been selected by Comunitel, the business services operation of Spanish carrier ONI, to construct a broadband network based on digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. The agreement is worth twelve million Euros over two years.
Comunitel will benefit from the powerful combination of Alcatel's broadband leadership and its experience gained through supplying more than 17 million DSL lines worldwide. The carrier will deliver services for small and medium sized enterprises (SME) across Spain and Portugal from a total of 115 exchanges. 35 exchanges are already broadband-enabled, with the remainder to follow over the next two years.
Comunitel's DSL network will be based on the Alcatel 7300 Advanced Services Access Manager (ASAM), the world's most widely deployed broadband access platform. The Alcatel 7300 ASAM's modular architecture enables carriers to offer residential and business services, while providing a seamless migration path to new broadband-based entertainment services such as streaming video, music download and online gaming as demand evolves.
Comunitel is the first operator in Spain to take advantage of local loop unbundling to offer broadband services over copper telephone lines. Comunitel's portfolio will be based on both asymmetric and g.shdsl-based symmetric DSL, providing a wide choice of cost effective bandwidth options
and value-added services that will benefit SMEs directly in their
day-to-day operations.
"We have selected Alcatel as market leader to supply the infrastructure that is the key to our successful entry into the business broadband market", said Antonio Portela, CEO of Comunitel. "All businesses require competitively priced, fast and reliable access to services. Alcatel provides us with that capability through a scalable platform that evolves cost-effectively, adapting to technology developments and customer demand."
"Comunitel is aggressively entering the broadband space, and its decision to select Alcatel reinforces our position as the leading supplier of broadband equipment and services in Spain," said Michel Rahier, President of Alcatel's broadband networking activities. "Together, we look forward to providing SMEs with affordable access to compelling, revenue generating services."
About Comunitel
ONI, Comunitel's parent company, is Portugal's largest alternate operator and through its Spanish operations offers businesses a unique portfolio of managed services across the Iberian peninsula. With a fiber optic network of over 135 000 kilometers, ONI provides the most reliable and robust network of all alternate operators across the peninsula.
About Alcatel
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 and 99,000 employees, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.
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