- Improved network performance enables Romanian cable operator to extract more
value from its existing fiber network -
KORTRIJK, Belgium and ATLANTA, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Leading
Romanian multiple service operator (MSO) Astral Telecom has added new
Scientific-Atlanta(R) products to its existing network to help enhance the
services offered to its subscribers while reducing operating costs.
Scientific-Atlanta will provide Astral Telecom with its reverse CWDM (Coarse
Wavelength Division Multiplexing) system, the ROSA(TM) Network Management
System (NMS), including the Phoenix(TM) HMTS (Hybrid Fiber/Coax Monitoring
Termination System), and a Vision 1000 Headend platform.
Astral currently provides cable TV to more than 100 cities, Internet
services to more than 52 cities in the country and has more than 700,000
subscribers. At the end of 2003 Astral Telecom launched fixed telephony
services in four cities - Bucharest, Cluj, Galati and Braila. Scientific-
Atlanta's reverse CWDM system will help Astral to maximize the use of the
existing fiber infrastructure to provide its users with an enhanced array of
services, without the need to deploy more fiber.
The Rosa NMS will allow Astral to monitor its HFC (Hybrid Fiber/Coax)
network to ensure that high service levels are maintained at all times. The
ROSA NMS will pinpoint the precise location of any failure in the network and
enable service personnel to remedy any problem quickly, avoid unnecessary
truck rolls and decrease network downtime. Initially Astral will monitor the
networks in Bucharest and Poiana Brasov, before implementing it to monitor
cities nationwide.
In 2003, Astral Telecom selected Scientific-Atlanta's products and systems
to boost up its HFC infrastructure. The process has enabled Astral Telecom to
implement fiber deeper into its networks while lowering the number of
subscribers per optical node. Scientific-Atlanta's range of services and
products for CATV operators coupled with its excellent customer service has
enabled Astral Telecom to develop a flexible network designed to meet the
needs of both content providers and subscribers.
Aurel Costea, CEO at Astral Telecom says, "As one of the fastest growing
MSOs in the country, we want to be sure the equipment we install supports us
in increasing customer satisfaction while lowering operational costs.
Scientific-Atlanta's technology helps us to achieve both of these objectives.
"Scientific-Atlanta's technology will enable us to monitor our entire
network to ensure that our customers continue to enjoy maximum service
availability with minimum disruption. With the reverse CWDM system in place,
we will be able to meet our objectives - increase the available bandwidth for
digital services and maintain our market leading position without the need to
re-fiber the network. While keeping an open eye to market trends and demands,
we are preparing our networks for future challenges."
George Stromeyer, vice president and managing director, sales for EMEA at
Scientific-Atlanta Europe says, "The Romanian telecommunications market is
growing rapidly and our technology will help Astral Telecoms retain its
position as an industry leader. Scientific-Atlanta's products are designed
with both the operator and their consumers in mind, and our network management
solutions provide operators with an end-to-end monitoring tool.
"In the current industry conditions, operators need technology which both
increases revenues and offers enhanced services while lowering the cost per
user. We believe Scientific-Atlanta technology can help Astral take a
significant step towards achieving this."
Notes for Editors:
About Scientific-Atlanta Europe
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (NYSE: SFA) ( http://www.scientificatlanta.com )
is a leading supplier of digital content distribution systems, transmission
networks for broadband access to the home, digital interactive set-tops and
subscriber systems designed for video, high-speed Internet and voice over IP
(VoIP) networks, and worldwide customer service and support.
"Forward-looking statements," as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may be included in this news release. A variety
of factors could cause Scientific-Atlanta's actual results to differ from the
anticipated results expressed in such forward-looking statements. Investors
are referred to Scientific-Atlanta's Cautionary Statements (Exhibit 99.1 to
the Company's most recent Form 10-Q), which statements are incorporated into
this news release by reference.
For more information visit http://www.scientificatlanta.com . Writers and
editors may access a variety of information on the company and its products,
as well as downloadable images, by selecting Press from the home page. Rosa
and Phoenix are trademarks of Scientific-Atlanta Europe NV.
About Astral Telecom
Astral Telecom began its operations back in 1993 and positioned itself as
a local cable television operator with headquarters in one of the most
important historical and cultural centres of Transylvania - Cluj Napoca.
Astral Telecom developed and successfully expanded its services on a national
level and by the beginning of 2003, had grown into a national communication
services provider (CSP) with a strong presence in over 700.000 residences in
over 100 cities.
Astral's services include: Cable television, international voice services,
IP fixed telephony services, Internet and data services (TV cable, optical
fiber, radio and leased lines) free webmail and WEB services, VPN, video
conference services, voice services, advertising services on its own channel
and web products: http://www.kappa.ro; http://www.k.ro; http://www.email.ro;
SOURCE Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.scientificatlanta.com
http://www.kappa.ro http://www.k.ro
http://www.email.ro
CONTACT:
Editorial, PR & Images, Lyndon Johnson of
Emmett & Smith, +44 (0) 20 7 819 4805, or
Lyndon.Johnson@emmettandsmith.com; or Peggy Ballard of
Scientific-Atlanta, +1-770-236-7871, or peggy.ballard@sciatl.com;
or Cornelia Serb, Public Relations Manager of Astral Telecom,
Tel.-fax, 320-92-03, or email comunicare@astral.ro
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