Globe signs $80-M deal with Fujitsu

Leading mobile phone service provider Globe Telecom and Fujitsu Phils. Inc. have recently signed an $80-million contract covering the supply transmission systems and submarine fiber optic cable system for Globe’s Fiber Optic Backbone Network (FOBN) project.

This project will connect Globe Telecom’s existing telecom network in Makati, stretching to Nasugbu in Batangas, connecting Mindoro, the islands of Panay and Negros, Cebu province, and Iligan City in Mindanao. The estimated fiber optic length (combination of submarine and land cables) is 1,600 kilometers.

In this project, Fujitsu will be delivering the latest and most advanced in optical networking technology, the Flashwave Series equipment. Fujitsu's Flashwave Series is DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexer)-capable transport system, comprising of Flashwave 320G terminal system. This system is capable of handling a very huge traffic density of up to 320 Gigabits/second, which is equivalent to around four million simultaneous calls on long distance reach.

Fujitsu is one of the leading telecom suppliers of DWDM having installed such a system in the US and Europe.

This is a full turnkey project, which also includes the installation of land fiber optic cable, new buildings for equipment, DC power plant, generator sets, and other support facilities needed for the project. The project shall be implemented within 15 months from the date of issuance of the notice to proceed.

With this project in place, Globe Telecom will enhance its network in providing its customers clear digital signals. This will make Globe Telecom more competitive in terms of tariff rates, both for domestic and international calls. Once completed, the FOBN project will carry a huge number of traffic coming from its fixed network, its mobile network or from data subscribers. The project is expected to be finished by December 2002.

According to Globe senior vice president Gil Genio, Fujitsu bested several other foreign telecommunications equipment suppliers that included Nortel Networks in the bid to supply the transmission systems and fiber optic cable system for the FOBN project.

"This is a full turnkey project worth $80 million which will be implemented within 15 months from the data of issuance of the notice to proceed," Genio explained.