March 2, 2004 Seoul--Samsung Electronics announced today it is extending its fiber-optics business into the European railway telecommunication market. One year ago, Samsung was awarded an exclusive 5-year contract to supply over 10,000 km of fiber-optic cables to Network Rail for its UK railway network. Now, Samsung is delighted to have completed a successful first year with deliveries in excess of 2,000 km to the new customer.
Samsung has been supplying a broad range of fiber-optic products in traditional telecommunications and cable TV markets. Now the company is diversifying the customer base by serving Network Rail, one of the most prominent and advanced railway utility companies in the UK.
British Network Rail is currently building a fixed telecommunications network (FTN) to provide a platform to support its proposed GSM-R networks and operational railway circuits across England, Scotland, and Wales. The FTN is scheduled for completion in 2006 to accommodate the GSM-R network and operational railway circuits. Information technology data traffic and business telephony traffic will subsequently be migrated to the FTN.
"Samsung is delighted to have been selected for this most prestigious contract and looks forward to a long lasting and successful partnership with Network Rail," says Byeong-Bok Jeon, the recently appointed vice president and new general manager of the Samsung Fiberoptics division. "Our highest quality fiber-optic cable will ensure superior reliability and performance for our customer's current and future network needs."
This success is a direct reflection of the field-proven quality of Samsung optical fiber and fiber- optic cable installed and operated in Europe and other areas of the world. Samsung's extensive customer base for its advanced fiber-optics products continues to grow.
Samsung Electronics began its fiber-optics business in 1983 and has been supplying its products to over 30 countries. The Fiber Optics division manufactures, designs, and markets a wide range of optical fibers, fiber-optic cables, and interconnection products. For more information, please visit http://www.samsungfiberoptics.com