Czech service provider deploys Nortel's Succession suite

8 April 2003 Prague, Czech Republic -- Contactel, a communication company and provider of Internet services to businesses in the Czech Republic, has deployed Nortel Networks' Succession solution to handle increasing network traffic, and to build a foundation for multimedia services.

The new equipment comprises Nortel's Succession Communication Server 2000 softswitch and Passport Packet Voice Gateways (PVG). Contactel says these will enable "delivery of full-featured, premium voice and broadband services to our customers on a more cost-effective IP infrastructure".

Having successfully concluded interconnection tests with Ceske Telecom, Contactel has become the first operator in the Czech Republic to run a softswitch in the public telephone network. Contactel carried out voice quality testing and determined that Nortel's Succession Communication Server 2000 complies with current regulatory requirements in the Czech Republic.

"We have taken the next step in our circuit-to-packet migration strategy," said Peter Rubeck, chief operating officer, Contactel. "By adding the Succession superclass softswitch, we can easily add new multimedia services and we can accommodate the increasing traffic demands of our current voice and data services."

The superclass softswitch meets all the criteria for true service provider circuit-to-packet migration, including: local, tandem and long distance capability on a single platform; full business and residential telephony service sets; regulatory features like Lawful Intercept and Number Portability; and carrier-grade reliability and scalability. Nortel Networks is the only vendor delivering a superclass softswitch today.

Peter Newcombe, president, Optical Networks and Wireline Networks for Nortel Networks in EMEA, said, "By providing a practical circuit-to-packet evolution plan, Nortel Networks has positioned Contactel to leverage its existing network assets while laying the foundation for new, revenue-generating, IP-based services."

In February 2003, Nortel Networks announced its comprehensive Succession Services initiative designed specifically to help wireline and wireless service providers generate new service revenue and to facilitate the mass market deployment of new, hosted multimedia and packet voice services.

Contactel was established in 1999 as a joint venture of Ceske Radiokomunikace a.s. and Tele Danmark A/S. The company, which aims to become a "preferred telecommunications operator", offers a portfolio of Internet, data, and voice services while extending its offer with the ongoing industry liberalisation.

More information about Nortel Networks can be found on the Web at www.nortelnetworks.com