PLDT selects Nortel for major optical network expansion

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Nortel Networks have signed a multimillion dollar contract for expansion of PLDT's next-generation Domestic Fiber Optical Network (DFON), the only 10-gigabit network deployed in the Philippines.

"This is the third major contract PLDT has awarded to Nortel Networks since the initial deployment, in December 2000, of Nortel Networks OPTera Long Haul 1600 Optical Line System for DFON," asserts Antonio Pio De Roda, managing director, Nortel Networks Philippines. "PLDT's continuing selection of Nortel Networks strongly endorses the quality and reliability of our solutions and services. This infrastructure rollout will support the Philippine government's campaign to promote an ICT economy, as OPTera Connect DX technology will increase network capacity and reliability for an efficient way of doing business."

Nortel Networks will enhance the capabilities of DFON's existing OPTera Long Haul 1600, as well as deploy an OPTera Connect DX optical switch to support an increase in network capacity, services provisioning, and reliability.

OPTera Long Haul 1600 is a DWDM Transport Platform that enables service providers to optimize their networks through data native interfaces and flexible OADM capabilities. Additionally, the multiservice capabilities and Terabit scalability offered through OPTera Long Haul 1600 allow service providers to reduce and manage lifecycle costs, providing an easy to manage platform that is future proof.

Nortel Networks OPTera Connect DX optical switch enables service providers and carriers to increase network capacity, provide flexible services, improve connection and network management capabilities, and enhance network reliability, claims Nortel. OPTera Connect DX is the only regional cross connect that integrates the backbone with the metro network and is the most widely deployed 10-Gbit/sec optical switch in the world, say company representatives, with over 5,000 network elements in-service globally.

For more information about PLDT (Manila, Philippines), visit the company's Web site at www.pldt.com.ph.

More information about Nortel Networks (Ottawa, Ontario) can be found on the Web at www.nortelnetworks.com.