Nortel Networks to deploy next-generation voice-over-IP cable network for Spanish operator TeleCable de Asturias

October 22, 2002 -- Spanish cable operator TeleCable de Asturias (Madrid) has chosen Nortel Networks to upgrade its existing telecommunications infrastructure to a next generation converged voice and data network. Nortel Networks' technology will allow TeleCable to migrate from its existing cable network to a high-performance optical backbone, leveraging voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology to cost effectively offer a full range of traditional and new, revenue-generating services.

These new business and residential services will have a phased rollout, commencing in November 2002, and will include carrier-grade VoIP and high-speed Internet as well as the potential for new multimedia services, all over the same physical subscriber connection.

"Nortel Networks ability to meet our aggressive deployment schedule for a cable voice over IP solution and to complement our existing infrastructure will enable us to present an even more comprehensive and compelling service offering to our end customers," said Roberto Paraja, chief executive officer, TeleCable. "Nortel Networks continuous support over the past four years has been a key element in attaining our current success, and we fully trust them for this challenging project."

"Nortel Networks enables cable operators to provide truly competitive residential and business communications offerings with all the services of a traditional telephone company, and to drive up average revenue per user," said Greg Mumford, chief technology officer, Nortel Networks. "Nortel Networks is in a unique position to help service providers transition to delivering switched voice over a packet infrastructure and across an optical backbone because of our substantial experience in building carrier grade networks that are carrying large volumes of commercial traffic today."

Nortel Networks will provide TeleCable with VoIP capability using its Succession Communication Server 2000 (CS 2000)-Compact softswitch as the call management server, and Passport Packet Voice Gateway. Succession CS 2000-Compact, which is based on industry standard computing hardware and boasts the comprehensive service set available from Nortel Networks DMS platform, will position TeleCable to continue offering primary line services equivalent to those supported today.

The Succession CS 2000-Compact is highly scalable, meaning that TeleCable can easily add new subscribers and new services as demand increases. This end-to-end cable VoIP technology is based on open PacketCable standards (Euro-DOCSIS 1.1 and PacketCable NCS 1.0), and addresses market and regulatory requirements stipulated by operator licenses.

TeleCable's new, regional IP over DWDM optical backbone will be based on Nortel Networks OPTera metro 5100 and 5200 multiservice platforms. This highly reliable DWDM backbone will enable TeleCable to cost-effectively integrate voice and data traffic, reducing overall operational expenditures. The Passport 8600 IP multiservice switch will support both the data and packet voice backbone across TeleCable's network. More information can be found on the Web at www.nortelnetworks.com.