ATHENS, February 23, 2009 - Cisco announced today that it has been selected as the equipment supplier by hellas online for a nationwide optical transport network in Greece. The network, which has been designed and implemented by Intracom Telecom, employs Cisco® optical networking and routing technologies over an Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network architecture.
hellas online, part of the Intracom Holdings Group, is making significant infrastructure investments using cutting-edge technologies to enhance the quality and reach of its broadband services. Today, hellas online's proprietary fiber optic network extends to more than 3,500 kilometers nationwide, enabling the company to offer highly competitive residential voice and data services, while placing it at a leading position in business services, including IP telephony, virtual private networks and next-generation fiber-to-the business services.
"Operating our own network, the second largest in the country, gives hellas online an important edge over our competitors, and the new cooperation provides us with a future-proof platform to innovate and expand," said Dimitris Gorgias, network engineering and operations director at hellas online. "Intracom Telecom and Cisco's approach to optical network design makes the management and operation of the network much simpler. As a result, our customers will experience faster installation times, higher-speed services and first-class reliability so that they can also compete more effectively in their markets."
"Intracom Telecom, a Cisco Gold Certified Partner, possesses vast technology know-how on the design, implementation and support of optical networks within the EEMEA (Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. hellas online exploits these capabilities to obtain the optimal design, the rapid deployment and the high availability of its optical network," said Alexandros Manos, chief executive officer of Intracom Telecom.
hellas online has deployed the Cisco ONS15454 Multiservice Transport Platform in the core and aggregation networks, supporting 40 gigabits per second wavelengths and offering the flexibility to make dynamic changes and expansions to the topology of the network. The innovative Cisco Ethernet over dense wavelength-division multiplexing Xponder line card technology used by hellas online in the DSL aggregation network helps to preserve scarce wavelength resources, by allowing multiple DSL access sites to be connected to the IP core network using a single wavelength.
"The demand for broadband services, driven by the availability of visual networking and Web 2.0 services, is growing despite the economic situation," said Paolo Campoli, senior director for sales business development at Cisco. "Cisco's integrated IP and optical solution is helping hellas online to simplify and 'de-layer' the network design, which is the best way to reduce the production cost of bandwidth and secure a competitive cost base. With the close collaboration of the hellas online, Intracom Telecom and Cisco teams, we have been able to deliver a world-class broadband infrastructure that will benefit consumers and businesses throughout Greece for many years to come."
About hellas online
hellas online (which now consists of legacy (pre-merger) hellas online and Unibrain) is one of the leading fixed-line telecommunications services providers in Greece offering a broad range of retail, business and wholesale services. hellas online owns and operates the largest core backbone network in Greece, expanding throughout the country, second only to that of OTE, the incumbent operator. hellas online is an ASE-listed company and is part of the Intracom Holdings group.
For more information visit: www.hol.gr
About Intracom Telecom
Intracom Telecom is a leading developer and producer of telecommunication systems as well as provider of integrated solutions and professional services to fixed and mobile operators in the EEMEA region. Over 100 customers in more than 50 countries choose Intracom Telecom for its state-of-the-art products and solutions. Intracom Telecom has 2,600 employees, operates subsidiaries in 14 countries and is amongst the largest European companies leading in R&D investments. Intracom Telecom is a Cisco Systems Gold certified partner. Since June 2006, Intracom Telecom is controlled by JSC SITRONICS (Russia) with 51%. JSC SITRONICS is the technology subsidiary of JSFC SISTEMA, a leading diversified holding company in Russia and the CIS. Intracom Holdings Group (Greece) retains a 49% stake.
