Tyco Telecommunications to Upgrade Telefonica Undersea Network

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Dec. 22 -- Telefonica International Wholesale Services and Tyco Telecommunications have signed a contract for a network upgrade for the Emergia Cable System, Telefonica's undersea fiber optic ring network that connects Central, North and South America. The network, which Tyco Telecommunications constructed for Telefonica in 2001, is comprised of twelve landing stations connecting the UA, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Brazil and Argentina on the east coast of South America, and Chile, Peru and Guatemala along the west coast of South America.

The Emergia ring is the first South American network using 10 Gb/s technology to be upgraded. When completed, the upgrade will double the existing capacity of the Emergia network to 80 Gb/s. The network will be operating at less than 10 percent of its maximum design capacity of 1.92 Tb/s, providing additional upgrade capability to support future sales growth.

For more information, visit: www.tycotelecom.com