Tonga Cable Limited’s new undersea cable connection with Fiji will strengthen communications and bring advanced broadband services to Tonga’s residents and visitors
Paris, May 10, 2012 – Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) has been selected by Tonga Cable Limited to deliver an undersea cable link between the Kingdom of Tonga and its neighbor Fiji, bringing to the Tongan islands broadband services such as streaming video and high-speed Internet access to residents and tourists alike.
The 837-km link with Fiji will provide Tonga with access to the Southern Cross Cable, the main trans-Pacific link between Australia and the United States. It will significantly boost connectivity and substantially increase the availability of broadband services for Tonga’s 100,000 residents and help spur economic growth.
Robert Bolouri, Managing Director of Tonga Cable Limited said: “This cable link with Fiji will create a gateway to the global economy and community, and we are confident that it will provide great benefits to Tonga’s citizens and the many visitors we welcome each year. With the help of Alcatel-Lucent, we will be able to bring a much broader range of communications services to people throughout the country”.
Philippe Dumont, President of Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks said: “We are pleased to be able to play a role in strengthening Tonga’s connections with the rest of the world. This new link will further expand connectivity throughout the Pacific Islands to drive digital inclusion.”
Under the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will deploy its advanced submarine optical solution based on the OALC-5 cables, repeaters and the 1620 Light Manager (LM) submarine line terminal – which can accommodate 10G/40G/100G wavelengths in the same platform. The installation will be performed by Alcatel-Lucent’s Ile de Ré cable ship, which is based in the region and is specialized for laying and maintenance operations.
About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU)
The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments around the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leading innovator in the field of networking and communications technology, products and services. The company is home to Bell Labs, one of the world’s foremost research centers, responsible for 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™, which cuts power consumption and operating costs on wireless networks while delivering lightning fast Internet access. Through such innovations, Alcatel-Lucent is making communications more sustainable, more affordable and more accessible as we pursue our mission – Realizing the Potential of a Connected World.
With operations in more than 130 countries and one of the most experienced global services organizations in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The Company achieved revenues of Euro 15.3 billion in 2011 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.
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