France Telecom has selected Nortel Networks to supply SONET transmission solutions for its US backbone transmission network, reports Malcolm Bayes, Country Manager of Nortel Networks South Africa.
"The backbone transmission network is intended to support increasing IP (Internet Protocol) traffic between North America and Europe," says Bayes. "France Telecom`s US backbone will also be used by Global One, France Telecom`s wholly owned subsidiary, to provide a new range of high-performance Internet services to the business market. It is expected to connect 28 U.S. cities, and is scheduled to be in commercial service before year-end 2001."
"Nortel Networks was the natural choice," says Jean-Philippe Vanot, executive vice president, France Telecom Long Distance. "Its market leading SONET solutions will enable us to aggressively roll out a highly reliable U.S. network, and allow us to enter a new phase in our business in North America."
"This marks a new era in our global relationship with France Telecom," says Olivier de Pazzis, vice president, France Telecom account, Nortel Networks. "We`ll be working hard to help them meet the challenge of aggressively addressing the North American market."
The France Telecom US backbone network will include Nortel Networks OPTera Long Haul and OPTera Connect DX Connection Manager solutions, supporting 10 gigabits per second SONET or SDH protocols.
Nortel Networks has extended its share of the global optical transmission market to more than 43 percent in the second quarter of this year according to figures recently release by the Dell`Oro Group.
According to Dell`Oro, Nortel Networks has captured 54.3 percent of the second quarter US$1.77 billion DWDM market. In delivering long-haul DWDM solutions, Nortel Networks has further extended its leadership by securing 53.9 percent market share. Dell`Oro`s figures also confirm Nortel Networks` leadership position in the DWDM metro arena with a 55.6 percent market share.
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Nortel Networks is a global Internet and communications leader with capabilities spanning Optical, Wireless, Local Internet and eBusiness. The Company had 1999 US GAAP revenues of US$21.3 billion and serves carrier, service provider and enterprise customers globally. Today, Nortel Networks is creating a high-performance Internet that is more reliable and faster than ever before. It is redefining the economics and quality of networking and the Internet, promising a new era of collaboration, communications and commerce. Visit us at www.nortelnetworks.com.