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Nortel: Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR idee suisse) Launches First Purely Optical Image Network with Nortel and Sunris

^{Published on 2009-09-14 01:27:18 - Market Wire}
 

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND--(Marketwire - Sept. 11, 2009) - Nortel(1) (OTCBB:NRTLQ) and service provider Sunrise, have helped create a new world class nationwide contribution network leveraging the latest optical solutions for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR idee suisse). For the first time full uncompressed HD (High Definition) video signals can be transmitted between studios and from Outside Broadcast vans to studios in real time and top quality.

SRG SSR idee suisse's new online contribution network for high definition picture transmission was launched on September 1 2009 with one of its first transmissions being the Saturday September 5th World Cup qualification match between Switzerland and Greece from the Basel St. Jakobspark Stadium, which Switzerland won 2-0.

The fibre optic network was constructed in a 15 months' joint project between SRG SSR, Sunrise and Nortel. Sunrise built the fiber optic base infrastructure and operates the network and Nortel equipped the backbone network and the local installations in the external locations and studios. The network today connects around 35 football and ice hockey stadiums with the studio locations of TV stations SF, TSR and RSI, and interconnects the main and regional radio and TV studios.

SRG SSR project manager Michael Bunter, who is in charge of the national network infrastructure, remarked: "The concept presented by Nortel and Sunrise convinced us because it perfectly integrates the core broadcasting and carrier infrastructure competencies of the partners. The joint project work was extremely productive and the solutions developed actually exceeded our expectations and allows for a substantial OPEX reduction."

The new network is believed to be the first national network of its kind, which can transport Full HD video signals at up to 3Gbit/s without any compression and provides unparalleled scalability and quality. It simplifies the production of live HDTV content by directly carrying live preproduction uncompressed HDTV feeds from the various sporting venues to pre production suites.

The new optical network implemented for SRG SSR idee suisse is based on Nortel's [ Optical Metro 5000 DWDM ] solution built on a flexible Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) CPL architecture. A newly introduced card for Optical Metro 5000 is supporting video transport and synchronization of Standard Definition (SDI), High Definition HD-SDI and 3G SDI (DCI) video formats in a solution that meets the stringent technology requirements for real-time HDTV video transport such as low latency and jitter. The solution was developed in close collaboration with Sunrise and SRG SSR idee suisse to custom fit the requirements of a TV Content producer.

"Thanks to this new optical network SRG SSR idee suisse is now at the leading edge of delivering real time HDTV programmes and can further optimize its IT and production environments and processes using it as a high-speed WAN to interconnect their computer centers and local data networks," said Rolf Weidmann, account director, service provider sales, Nortel Switzerland.

About Nortel (in Administration)

Nortel was placed into Administration on 14 January 2009. The Company is engaged in the orderly sale of our businesses. The value of Nortel's innovation platforms and the employees behind them is well-known throughout the industry, and we are optimistic about discussions we are having with potential buyers for our other businesses. Nortel is confident that the products and services it supplies will continue to be supported without impacting customers for the foreseeable future. Ernst & Young are the joint administrators of Nortel.

Nortel delivers communications capabilities that make the promise of Business Made Simple a reality for our customers. Our next-generation technologies, for both service provider and enterprise networks, support multimedia and business-critical applications. Nortel's technologies are designed to help eliminate today's barriers to efficiency, speed and performance by simplifying networks and connecting people to the information they need, when they need it. For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at [ www.nortel.com ]. For the latest Nortel news, visit [ www.nortel.com/news ].

Certain statements in this press release may contain words such as "could", "expects", "may", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "targets", "envisions", "seeks" and other similar language and are considered forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities legislation. These statements are based on Nortel's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the operating environment, economies and markets in which Nortel operates. These statements are subject to important assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict and the actual outcome may be materially different from those contemplated in forward-looking statements. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see Nortel's Annual Report on Form10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other securities filings with the SEC. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Nortel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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