SEOUL, Korea - Nortel Networks* [NYSE/TSX: NT] has built the first optical long-haul DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplexing) network for Korea Telecom, Korea's leading carrier. The network was sold through Growell Telecom Limited, a Nortel Networks distributor.

The network ? based on Nortel Networks OPTera Long Haul 1600 Optical Line Systems ? is designed to help Korea Telecom address new business opportunities in one of the most connected, Internet-savvy countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Korea Telecom's new optical network includes 'point-to-point' connections from Gwangju, Kohung to Cheju Island (351 kilometers) and from Gwangju, Namhae to Cheju Island (513 kilometers).

"Nortel Networks successfully passed our stringent benchmark test and has proven its leadership in the optical transmission market," said Sun-Cheol Gweon, managing director of network planning (headquarters), Korea Telecom. "The strong global customer acceptance and proven cutting-edge technology were important factors in our choice of Nortel Networks optical solution."

"This was a major milestone in the local telecommunications industry," said Soo-Jin Chung, managing director, Korea, Nortel Networks. "It marks both our strong relationship with Korea Telecom and a market leadership position in deploying high-capacity, long haul optical networks worldwide."

OPTera Long Haul 1600 is a 10Gbps platform that uses DWDM to split light into as many as 80 channels to maximize capacity on each fiber pair.

OPTera Long Haul 1600 uses Raman amplification to provide un-repeatered submarine links of up to 350 kilometers. Raman amplification is a network component that boosts the optical signal to achieve greater distances. It eliminates the need for costly submerged repeaters, positioning service providers to drive lower capital and operating costs compared to traditional submarine solutions.

Deployed in more than 1,000 customer networks in 65 countries, Nortel Networks end-to-end optical network portfolio includes next generation SONET/SDH, optical switching, photonics (WDM), and Optical Ethernet products. Nortel Networks has deployed more than 250,000 network elements globally. Nortel Networks was the global market leader in total optical transport equipment, long haul DWDM and metropolitan DWDM in 2002, according to the Dell'Oro Group.

Nortel Networks is an industry leader and innovator focused on transforming how the world communicates and exchanges information. The Company is supplying its service provider and enterprise customers with communications technology and infrastructure to enable value-added IP data, voice and multimedia services spanning Wireless Networks, Wireline Networks, Enterprise Networks, and Optical Networks. As a global company, Nortel Networks does business in more than 150 countries. More information about Nortel Networks can be found on the Web at http://www.nortelnetworks.com.


Source: Nortel Networks