BLUE COUNTRY networks to deploy Mediterranean optical festoon network

May 24, 2001
May 24, 2001--BLUE COUNTRY networks, a carrier's carrier, has selected Nortel Networks as the exclusive supplier for what the company claims will be the first festoon telecommunications network to be deployed in the Mediterranean Sea under an initial agreement estimated to be worth $15 million.

BLUE COUNTRY networks, a carrier's carrier, has selected Nortel Networks (NYSE/TSE: NT) as the exclusive supplier for what the company claims will be the first festoon telecommunications network to be deployed in the Mediterranean Sea under an initial agreement estimated to be worth $15 million (20 million Euro). Festoon networks are submarine communications systems that have no submerged active equipment such as repeaters.

Scheduled to be ready for service in the first quarter of 2002, this network will initially connect southern France (Marseille, Toulon, Monaco) to Corsica (Calvi, Ajaccio, Bonifacio, Solenzara, Bastia) with the west coast of Italy and inland to Rome. Additional loops are planned for deployment beginning in 2002 to link Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and other parts of France and Italy. BLUE COUNTRY networks envisions a high-capacity optical infrastructure linking all major Mediterranean cities by 2005.

Nortel Networks solution for BLUE COUNTRY networks will include Nortel Networks OPTera Long Haul 1600 and OPTera Long Haul 4000 Optical Line Systems. Using dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) technology, the network will enable optical links without repeaters over distances up to 300 kilometers using Raman amplification.

In addition, the fiber pairs in the network will have a capacity of up to 1.6 terabits per second. This will position BLUE COUNTRY networks to provision broadband capacity over wavelengths for customers with the highest capacity long haul needs.

Norddeutsche Seekabel Werke, (NSW) a subsidiary of Corning Cable Systems, will be responsible for delivery and installation of the cables. Based on the latest advances in festoon technology, these cables will be designed to quickly and cost-effectively provide as much as three times more fibers per cable than traditional submarine cable technology.

About BLUE COUNTRY:

BLUE COUNTRY networks builds and operates festoon submarine cables, with no submerged equipment. BLUE COUNTRY networks offers 2.5 and 10 gigabits per second services. BLUE COUNTRY networks service differentiation resides in the high network redundancy obtained through loop architecture and secure landings.

About NSW:

NSW is a wholly owned subsidiary of Corning Cable Systems and a supplier of underwater cables and systems. The submarine cable group of NSW and its partners provide customers with the full range of submarine fiber-optic cable products and turnkey solutions.

About Nortel Networks:

Nortel Networks is a global Internet and communications provider with capabilities spanning Optical, Wireless, Local, Personal Internet and eBusiness. For more information, visit collaboration, communications and commerce. Visit us at www.nortelnetworks.com.

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