APRIL 26, 2007 -- Alcatel-Lucent (search for Alcatel-Lucent) has completed for Moroccan carrier Maroc Telecom the manufacturing and installation of the Atlas Offshore submarine cable network, linking the cities of Asilah in Morocco to Marseille, France. Directly interconnecting Maroc Telecom with the various European operators, Atlas Offshore supports the growth and convergence of fixed and mobile services. This submarine cable network was landed in Marseille in the presence of representatives from Maroc Telecom and Alcatel-Lucent.
Spanning more than 1,630 km, Atlas Offshore strengthens regional connectivity and high-speed access capabilities. It offers advanced restoration capabilities and serves as backhaul infrastructure to the existing Eurafrica submarine system -- a 3,200-km network connecting France, Morocco, and Portugal -- and to Sea-Me-We 3. With a 320-Gbit/sec design capacity, Atlas Offshore secures existing international links and enhances Maroc Telecom's network capacity. Thus, Maroc Telecom will be able to deliver high-speed services such as Internet, TV over ADSL, mobile data, and off-shoring activities.
This systems vendor asserts the new connection confirms Marseille as a crucial communication hub located at the crossroad of the Sea-Me-We 3, Sea-Me-We 4, and Med-Cable submarine networks, all landed by Alcatel-Lucent. Atlas Offshore will further contribute to the city's economic development, particularly the many small and medium enterprises created in business segments including petrochemicals, microelectronics, telecommunications, and oceanic engineering.
"This new submarine network contributes to improving global connectivity for both consumers and business," said Jean Godeluck, president of Alcatel-Lucent's submarine networking activities. "Alcatel-Lucent's submarine technology delivers the benefits of maximum network effectiveness to support Maroc Telecom in best serving its end-users."
Alcatel-Lucent supplied its managed, regional offering that includes cables and repeaters -- installed by the Ile de Sein, one of Alcatel-Lucent's cable installation ships -- and its 1620 Light Manager DWDM submarine line terminal. Alcatel-Lucent also provided its 1678 Metro Core Connect MCC for terrestrial applications.
As part of the Euro 26 million turnkey contract signed in July 2006, Alcatel-Lucent has been in charge of the design, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, integration, and testing of the entire system, along with post-commissioning support.
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