PLDT taps Nortel for upgrade

In a strategic move to strengthen its optical transport leadership and enhance its competitive edge, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) has selected Nortel Networks to implement a significant expansion of its national Domestic Fiber Optical Network (DFON).

This current expansion of the country’s only 10-gigabit DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) network will provide additional bandwidth and capacity, and enable next-generation services for major centers in key commercial regions of Mindanao.

In addition, the augmented PLDT optical backbone will provide high-capacity voice transmission interface facilities to serve the requirements of Smart Communications in Southern Luzon and northern and southern Visayas.

"This is the third network expansion PLDT has awarded to Nortel Networks, including our initial OPTera Connect DX and Long Haul 1600 DWDM solution for DFON almost three years ago, and the OPTera Metro 5200 Optical Line System in 2001 to enable high-speed metropolitan area interconnection to the DWDM backbone," said Tony Pio de Roda, managing director of Nortel Networks Phils.

"PLDT’s continuing selection of Nortel Networks is a strong endorsement of the quality and reliability of our high-performance optical network solutions, and of our ability to provide ongoing upgrades to keep pace with evolving market demands," Pio de Roda added.