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The PCCS operators to boost fast broadband access in the Caribbean, Central and South America(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) * The PCCS consists of Cable & Wireless Communications, Setar,Telconet, Telefonica Global Solutions and United Telecommunication Services(UTS) * 100G Pacific Caribbean Cable System spanning 6000km will link Floridaand Ecuador and help increase digital integration and capacity growth in theregion. Paris and Aruba -- A group of telecommunicationsoperators consisting of Cable & Wireless Communications, Setar, Telconet,Telefnica a Global Solutions and United Telecommunication Services (UTS) hassigned a turnkey contract with Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE:ALU) to deploy the Pacific Caribbean Cable System (PCCS), a 100Gsubmarine cable system linking Jacksonville, Florida to Manta, Ecuador. The 6000km submarine cable system will strengthen digital links as demandgrows rapidly throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America for onlinecontent such as tourism related services, sports coverage and digital TV. Workwill start before the end of the year and commercial operations for the PCCSare scheduled to commence by the third quarter of 2014. In addition to Florida and Ecuador, the system will connect the islands ofTortola, Puerto Rico, Aruba and Curacao, as well as Cartagena in Colombia andMaria Chiquita and Balboa in Panama. The system will have an ultimate designcapacity of 80 Terabit-per-second, dramatically boosting connectivity andsubstantially increasing the availability of broadband services. Additionally,the PCCS will increase communications reliability and help reduce the risk ofcommunications disruption by providing cable route diversity and alternativebandwidth access to existing cables in the region. The Alcatel-Lucent solution to be deployed for the project includes anintegrated 100G wet plant of cable optimized with coherent submarine fiber andhigh bandwidth repeaters, power feed equipment, and its 1620 Light Manager (LM)submarine line terminal equipped with advanced coherent technology. Offeringunique flexibility and scalability to accommodate multiple data ratewavelengths, the Alcatel-Lucent 1620 LM enables seamless capacity upgrade onflexible grid for channel spacing without traffic interruption. The solutionwill be managed by the Alcatel-Lucent end-to-end submarine management system.As part of the turnkey contract, Alcatel-Lucent will also be responsible forproject management, system design, marine operations and systemcommissioning. "With the signing of this agreement, we are ready to roll-out this newundersea system which will offer a clear evolution path toward faster speedsand higher capacity communications. The PCCS will help the CALA region and itspeople to benefit from sustainable social and economic growth. Alcatel-Lucent'sindustry-leading submarine technology and its invaluable customer commitmentwill help us deliver high-quality and reliable services to meet end-users'demand." Carlos Pazmino, Chairman of the PCCS GeneralCommittee "We are pleased to be working with the PCCS operators to deliver what willbe key connectivity and a bandwidth artery in the Caribbean, Central and SouthAmerica. This new system will contribute to offer significantly higher-capacityto address the exponential growth in business and consumer-related datatraffic. This project also reconfirms Alcatel-Lucent as a trusted partner insubmarine communications, underlining our innovation, unique end-to-endexpertise and turnkey execution ability." Philippe Dumont, President of Alcatel-Lucent SubmarineNetworks "This agreement reinforces Telefnica's international network in America,where we also have our SAM-1 submarine cable connecting USA and Latin America.The new system will allow us to diversify our access points in North Americaand to expand connectivity with Colombia, Ecuador and Panama. Importantly, itwill also help us provide better service to our customers in terms of extendedcapacity, security and network diversity". Jose Ramon Vela, CEO of Telefnica GlobalSolutions, "This system will enable us to provide better services to our customers,ensuring a future growth of submarine capacities for all types of applicationsand services." Tomislav Topic, President of TELCONET, Equador "With this new cable system, Setar's international network will be fullydiversified and will have the capacity to provide our customers with all thespeed they need.Our customers are constantly changing the way they are usingtheir Internet connection, therefore Setar is committed to staying one stepahead of the trends in broadband service delivery." Roland Croes, Setar Director "Our participation in the PCCS cable will help us to support increasedbroadband penetration and usage in the pan-American markets in which weoperate. The cable will also add to our extensive subsea cable assets in thekey corridor between north and south America, one of the fastest growing routesin the world for internet data transit." Felix Camargo, Chief Operating Officer, CWC WholesaleSolutions About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governmentsaround the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leading innovator in the field ofnetworking and communications technology, products and services. The company ishome to Bell Labs, one of the world's foremost research centers, responsiblefor breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry.Alcatel-Lucent was named one of MIT Technology Review's 2012 Top 50 list of the"World's Most Innovative Companies" for breakthroughs such as lightRadio(TM),which cuts power consumption and operating costs on wireless networks whiledelivering lightning fast Internet access. Through such innovations,Alcatel-Lucent is making communications more sustainable, more affordable andmore accessible as we pursue our mission - Realizing the Potential of aConnected World. With operations in more than 130 countries and one of the most experiencedglobal services organizations in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a localpartner with global reach. The Company achieved revenues of Euro 15.3 billionin 2011 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com , read the latest posts on theAlcatel-Lucent blog: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow the Companyon Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent . Contact the Alcatel-Lucent Press Office: [email protected] ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected])). (c) 2012 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |