Ericsson wins contract tp provide Spain's nationwide IP voice & data network

Ericsson wins contract to provide Spain's first nationwide IP voice and data network Ericsson UK has won a contract valued at USD 11 million (SEK 90 million) from Interoute Telecommunicaciones SA, the Spanish subsidiary of the London-based pan-European telecommunications group. Under the contract, Ericsson will design, install and support a nationwide Internet Protocol Telephony system (IPT), using the latest in IP technology. Interoute Spain chose the Ericsson IP solution because it offers more compact, more efficient and less expensive points of presence (POPs) than circuit switched systems, enabling Interoute to comply with Spanish PTT requirements at greatly reduced investment costs. "This is exciting for IP networking. To our knowledge, it is the largest order for an IP telephony network so far," said Staffan Lindholm, General Manager, IP Services Ericsson Datacom Networks and IP Services. "Of course, we're also pleased about the confidence being placed in Ericsson's IP and datacom strengths by one of Europe's leading service providers." Ericsson will initially install a core network of POPs covering six main provincial centers in Spain - Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, Seville and La Coruna - with Madrid as the central hub. The network will then be extended, by the addition of sub-area switching centers, in a further 45 towns to achieve the extent of national coverage called for under Spanish PTT regulations. The main users of the network are expected to be residential and pre-paid card customers, with increasing usage by commercial customers for both voice and data transmissions as the network expand. The Interoute network will use Ericsson's robust carrier class IPT system. IPT version 1.6 will be installed in the network. This high-capacity system is expandable to 780 ports and provides SS7 interconnection to the PSTN. The system is the platform for a wide variety of applications, including phone-to- phone, pre-paid calling card, fax and PC-to-phone, phone-to-PC and web-based dialing. The main network management center will be located in Madrid, with stand-by facilities in Barcelona. 7-day, 24-hour, network support will be provided by Ericsson Spain, backed by the resources of Ericsson's European Technical Support Centre in Sussex, England. "There is considerable growth in the Spanish market as well as strong competition," said Nigel Wallbridge, CEO of Interoute Europe. "However, the installation of a state-of-the-art IP network through our contract with Ericsson means we are well placed to take full advantage of the opportunities available. We chose Ericsson because of their experience in supplying public communications networks and their depth of investment in new world technologies." Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over. Please visit Ericsson's Press Room at: http://www.ericsson.se/pressroom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Paula Wagstaff, Media Relations Director, Ericsson Ltd. Phone: +44 1444 234354 Staffan Lindholm, General Manager, IP Services Ericsson Business Unit Datacom Networks and IP Services Phone: +46 8 719 5176, +46 70 510 0603 E-mail: staffan.lindholm@etx.ericsson.se Antoinette Torell, Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 560 0134; E-mail: antoinette.torell@lme.ericsson.se Company Information Interoute, a leading communications service provider, was formed in 1995 by a team of experienced telecommunications professionals and granted an International Facilities license in 1996. The group, which offers a diverse portfolio of communications services to business and residential users in Europe and North America, employs over 1,000 people, has offices in 12 countries, and has annualized revenues of more than $300 million. In the UK, Interoute Telecom Services (ITS) sells a range of national and international telecoms services to corporate and residential customers. ITS is also a leading provider of pre-paid card services under the 'First National' brand.