Nortel Deploys Optical Long Haul Network Expansion for Chunghwa Telecom

TAIPEI, Taiwan /Wi-Fi Technology News/- Nortel Networks* [NYSE/TSX: NT] has deployed an optical long haul network expansion for Chunghwa Telecom. The new dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) network connects four National Center for High Performance Computing (NCHC) backbone nodes located in the major cities of Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung and Tainan.

The network, based on Nortel Networks OPTera* Long Haul 1600 Optical Line Systems, positions Chunghwa Telecom to provide multiple managed 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) wavelength services to NCHC. This allows NCHC to address the expected growth in bandwidth requirements for the Taiwan Advanced Research & Education Network (TWAREN), a national research and information networking project initiated by the National Science Council of Taiwan.

"This Nortel Networks solution will help us enable TWAREN to provide an integrated, ultra high-bandwidth resource to cover grid computing for national research bureaus and the high-tech research laboratories of top-ranking universities," said Tien-yong Lee, chief engineer, Northern Taiwan Business Group, Chunghwa Telecom.

"We have a strong and long-standing working relationship with Chunghwa Telecom, and are pleased to add our technology and skills to the expansion of its existing optical long haul networks," said Jackson Wu, managing director, Nortel Networks Taiwan. "We are a leader in deploying 10 Gpbs DWDM networks in Taiwan. This deployment further reinforces our global market leadership position in the optical long haul industry."

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 the third quarter of 2003, according to the Dell'Oro Group.

Nortel Networks OPTera Long Haul 1600 is a 10 Gbps platform that uses DWDM to split light into as many as 80 channels to maximize capacity on each fiber pair, and offers cost-effective scalability to 0.8 Terabits per second. The long haul system uses Raman amplification to boost the optical signal to achieve greater distances. Providing repeaterless submarine links of up to 350 kilometers, it eliminates the need for costly submerged repeaters, positioning service providers to drive lower capital and operating costs compared to traditional submarine solutions.

Established in 1996, Chunghwa Telecom is Taiwan's leading telecommunications company, operating both domestically and internationally. The carrier also invests in related businesses and other ventures, as authorized by Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and was awarded a 3G WCDMA license in 2002. Chunghwa Telecom's range of services includes local, long distance and international telephony, GSM mobility, data communications, Internet services, broadband networking, satellite communications, intelligent networking, mobile data and multimedia broadband. Additional information is available on the Web at http://www.cht.com.tw.

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.