Alcatel to provide a wet and dry DWDM network for Mozambique, Mozambique's largest telecommunications project to date.

Business/High-Tech Editors

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 5, 2000

Alcatel, the world leader in optical networking, and Telecomunicacoes de Mocambique (TDM), the Mozambican public telecommunications operator, have signed a contract on a full turnkey basis for the first phase of Mozambique's National Backbone Transmission Network.

The project is valued at approximately 32 million US$ and will comprise submarine and terrestrial transmission cables, as well as a network management system. To date it is the largest telecommunications project in Mozambique. The aim of this system is to provide a national fibre optic network to improve the national, regional and international telecommunications of the country.

The network will cover more than 1,000 km, including overland cabling, along a coastal festoon configuration (see the map). This architecture represents an alternative solution in comparison with full terrestrial networks, and will be linking some of the main towns of the country that are located along the coast, thus allowing TDM to extend this network regionally and internationally. Furthermore, the underwater network will be more secure and resilient in terms of damage from external sources and extreme weather conditions such as severe flooding. The system will use two pure silica fibre optic pairs with an initial 2.5 Gbit/s traffic capacity per pair, plus two additional pairs as spare capacity.

This first phase of the network will link Maputo and Beira via Xai-Xai, Inhambane and Vilanculos. To create a secure environment for the system, the submarine cable will be provided with single and double armouring.

In addition, Alcatel will be the exclusive supplier of all the equipment for the project including add-drop multiplexers and network management applications. The contract will cover the manufacturing and installation of the different parts of the network, as well as the civil work of the land routes between each landing point and terminal station.

"We have chosen Alcatel, because they are able to provide a complete network solution, encompassing submarine and terrestrial sections, adapted to our needs. For Mozambique, having this kind of network is a key factor in the development of our country, especially in terms of new technologies ", stated Rui Fernandes, Chairman and Managing Director, Telecomunicacoes de Mocambique.

"In an area which hasn't been very well surveyed in the past, this new contract proves Alcatel's ability to build networks meeting customers' requirements," said Christian Reinaudo, President of Alcatel's Optics Group. "With this new contract in Africa, Alcatel, the only vendor able to provide turnkey terrestrial and submarine optical networks with integrated network management, is confirming its global leadership in DWDM systems."

The network will be installed by the end of the year 2001.

About Telecomunicacoes de Mocambique (TDM)

TDM is the main supplier of public telecommunication services in Mozambique. The fundamental role of communications in a modern society and the advent of the information society are continuing to make telecommunications a critical sector in the development of any country. TDM takes cognisance of the important role it has to fulfil in the socio-economic development of Mozambique. It is to this effect, and in accordance with the policies of the Government of Mozambique, that all efforts are directed towards the implementation of an ambitious programme for the development of the National Telecommunications Network. This will assist in satisfying the communication needs of the community at large, while also guaranteeing that a large section of the population will have access to telephone. The development programme, of which the National Backbone Transmission Network project will form an important part, will at the same time also address the imbalances existing in development through the integration on a national level of the terms on which products, services and other facilities are provided. For more information, visit TDM on the Internet: http://www.tdm.mz

About Alcatel

In November 1999, RHK, a leading telecommunications analyst firm, said that Alcatel holds a 23% share - the number one position - of the world's total transport market, which comprises submarine and terrestrial transmission systems. RHK noted that Alcatel's market-leading 37% market share in the submarine networks segment helped secure the top position in the total transport market. In addition, RHK found that Alcatel commands a 37% share of the digital cross-connect systems (DCS) segment. Cross-connect systems contain the enabling technology for operators to offer high bandwidth services. Alcatel is also cited as the global leader in terms of DWDM market share for the global market encompassing both terrestrial and submarine applications.

Alcatel is the world leader in delivering full turnkey submarine network solutions and services. Alcatel leads this industry in terms of: o having the highest sold capacity up to 5.12 Tbit/s for the long-haul systems and 3.6 Tbit/s for the short-haul ones, using the latest DWDM technology; o having the largest manufacturing capacity at 85,000 km per year strategically located around the Globe; o managing 11 dedicated purposed-designed vessels for a tight control on the delivery schedule.

Current contracts, worth US$ 4.5+ billion, include the most advanced undersea networks in the world today: Atlantica-1 and FLAG Atlantic-1 systems in the Atlantic, the FLAG Pacifc-1, Japan-US and Southern Cross transpacific systems, and the MAC and MAYA-1 systems in the Americas and the SAT-3 around Africa.

Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers world-wide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 23 billion in 1999, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit. Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com