March 16, 2005 Paris, France -- Alcatel has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to provide an integrated submarine and terrestrial optical deployment for the 10-Gbit/sec upgrade of the SEA-ME-WE 3 submarine cable network. The upgrade will provide the 38,000-km cable network with extra capacity to support increased traffic loads driven by the rollout of broadband services. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2005, the upgraded network will also serve as backhaul infrastructure for the SEA-ME-WE 4 network, according to a press release.
The company will upgrade submarine sections of the network linking the UK to India via France, Portugal, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. The company will also upgrade all terrestrial stations along the network.
Under the terms of the contract, the company will supply a turnkey, end-to-end platform employing its most advanced submarine and terrestrial optical networking equipment. In the submarine sections, the company will deploy its 1620 Light Manager DWDM submarine line terminal. At landing stations, upgrades will include the company's Optical Multi-Service Nodes, as well as its 1678 Metro Core Connect and DWDM terrestrial systems. The company will also upgrade the existing network management system in order to monitor the new equipment, and will be in charge of installation, testing, and commissioning.
"The continued cooperation with SEA-ME-WE 3 will offer end-users the opportunity to enjoy powerful communications capabilities with enhanced efficiency," remarks Jean Godeluck, president of Alcatel's submarine network activity.