ROME, MAHWAH, N.J. and MUNICH, Germany, June 19, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- ADVA Optical Networking today announced that FASTWEB S.p.A. has deployed the Fiber Service Platform (FSP) 2000 and FSP 3000 from ADVA to help build one of the world's most innovative networks. FASTWEB offers a range of industry-leading services -- including "triple play" solutions that interweave telephony, Internet access and an advanced video portfolio -- over a fiber-optic, all-Internet Protocol (IP) network that now reaches more than 794,000 business and residential customers across Italy.
Partnering with Siemens, ADVA began working with FASTWEB in 2000, deploying a Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) metropolitan ring in Milan to support dedicated Gigabit Ethernet video connectivity across FASTWEB's network. FASTWEB expanded its network with the deployment of ADVA's FSP 2000 and FSP 3000 to support dedicated connections to its customers and backhaul traffic in its regional transport network, along fiber links of up to 145 kilometers. ADVA's solutions allow FASTWEB to support multiple interfaces including Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) and Ethernet/ IP at data rates from 10Mbit/s to 10Gbit/s.
The FASTWEB network extends Internet access to residential users at significantly faster speeds than traditional telephone lines. It combines high-quality video and audio with text and traditional images while keeping telephone lines free for voice calls. Importantly, FASTWEB is the first European operator to provide a TV-on-demand service so that families can watch programs when they wish, without having to follow the broadcasting schedules of traditional channels. Using a special device with keyboard and infrared remote control, the viewer accesses the network directly from the television set, choosing from a constantly-expanding library of films, TV news, sports, cartoons, music videos and more.
"It is critical for competitive carriers to offer differentiated services that create a compelling service offering for the end user," stated Mario Mella, customer operations & technology planning director for FASTWEB. "ADVA and Siemens offer us innovative, high-quality systems upon which we are building a flexible, scalable network that has allowed us to add new channels and features without affecting existing traffic or changing equipment. We looked at many providers, but none could match the strong service offering, rich feature set and ease of use that ADVA and Siemens offer."
The FASTWEB network is a fully independent alternative to incumbent operators' infrastructures. FASTWEB's offerings for residential customers include Europe's first video-on-demand services. Its offerings for business customers include IP Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and high-speed, secure "Business to Employee (B2E)" links that enable employees to access their companies' local area networks (LANs) from home.
Added Brian P. McCann, ADVA's chief marketing and strategy officer, "Our FSP 2000 and FSP 3000 systems allow FASTWEB to serve multiple customers and backhaul their high-speed services cost-effectively, across the same fiber infrastructure. FASTWEB has complete, real-time control of its network and customer services through a single interface. We look forward to continuing to work with Siemens in helping FASTWEB grow its flexible, high-capacity metropolitan and long-distance networks."
ADVA's Fiber Service Platform is a portfolio of Optical+Ethernet networking products designed specifically for the delivery of high-speed services and network infrastructure rollout. Their modular design and flexible architecture options enable the most comprehensive and cost-effective solutions for customer premises, access, metro core and regional deployment.
ABOUT ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING
ADVA Optical Networking (FSE: ADV) is at the forefront of providing Optical+Ethernet solutions that advance next-generation networks for data, storage, voice and video services. ADVA's strength comes from passionate and dedicated employees, all sharing a common vision: a fast, customized response to customers' ever-changing needs. Our innovative Fiber Service Platform (FSP) and strong customer focus provide carriers and enterprises the ability to scale their networks and deliver intelligent, competitive new services. ADVA's solutions have been deployed at more than 100 carriers and 5,000 enterprises in more than 40 countries worldwide. For further information about ADVA: www.advaoptical.com.
ABOUT FASTWEB
FASTWEB (www.fastweb.it) is Italy's second largest fixed telephony operator and the first player worldwide to develop an all IP network for Triple Play service delivery, currently operating in more than 130 Italian cities via a network of more than 20,000km. FASTWEB uses a unique technological model combining extensive use of the Internet Protocol (IP) for voice, data and video transmission with optical fiber and xDSL technology. For business users it offers advanced competitive services in all market segments -- public authorities, large, medium and small organizations, professionals, business concerns, universities and research. The residential offer provides Internet access at the top speed available today in Italy (up to 10 Mbit/s for optical fiber; 6 Mbit/s for ADSL, the possibility to raise the access rate up to 20 Mbit/s using ADSL 2 PLUS technology and the transmission rate to 1 Mbit/s), as well as a growing range of high value added video services (including video on demand). www.fastweb.it -- www.company.fastweb.it
PUBLISHED BY: ADVA AG Optical Networking, Martinsried/Munich and Meiningen, Germany ADVA Optical Networking Inc., Mahwah/New Jersey, USA ADVA Optical Networking Corp., Tokyo, Japan www.advaoptical.com