Draka XS.Net allows for the design, implementation and maintenance
of fibre optic passive infrastructure for emerging € 20 billion FTTH market
Amsterdam, February 18, 2008 -- Draka, a global leader in
optical fibre technology, cabling, connectivity products and solutions and
network engineering services, today announces Draka XS.Net, a comprehensive FTTH
design, implementation and maintenance solution for next generation access
network infrastructure.
Draka XS.Net, the outcome of Draka’s 20 years expertise in cable and network
building projects around the world, provides a complete passive network
building resource comprising state-of-the-art miniaturised fibre optic
components with network project design, planning, implementation and
maintenance. Draka XS.Net is based upon a proven econometric model which results
in lower costs and control over capital and operating expenses.
This comprehensive solution is targeted towards the current needs of investors,
municipalities, operators, utility companies and property developers who are
seeking to build a stake in the projected € 20 billion FTTH marketplace
presently developing as a consequence of the replacement of legacy copper
networks by the rollout of next-generation access networks throughout Europe.
Draka XS.Net: a facilitator for standardisation
Next-generation access networks are now replacing copper networks with fibre
optic connections throughout European cities, direct to the office or home. They
provide massive bandwidth to cope with new multimedia services and guarantee
internet broadband capacities exceeding 100 Mb/s, eliminating the attenuation,
maintenance and conversion issues associated with current copper networks. Fibre
optics add value to homes and offices as well as providing new income streams by
opening up new broadband services for gaming, high definition television over
internet and a host of interactive multimedia services.
“The availability of this advanced solution is a major step towards the
standardisation of the construction of passive layer infrastructures for the
thousands of fibre projects that will be developed over the next decade, “ says
Karel Helsen, Director Broadband of Draka Comteq. “What we are announcing with
Draka XS.Net is a unique high level service capability that simplifies passive
architecture build-out. It comprises human expertise on proven FTTH projects
with a methodology that gives predictable pricing for fibre projects and a
control of the entire supply chain that will keep Capex and Opex under control.”
Draka XS.Net builds upon Draka’s vast project experience and manufacturing
resources, utilising Draka’s innovative fibre technology BendBrightXS and
components together with a Draka-developed suite of planning, design, project
management and network registration down to the consumer level. This combination
of connectivity, cabling and logistics expertise results in a solution which
covers all possible local environment access issues (aerial, direct buried,
microduct or sewer system) to help design, plan and put into place fibre
networks, together with a full bill of material, up to final network
registration and ongoing maintenance.
Predicted 17 million connections
Over the last 2 years, Draka has proven itself as a highly competitive contender
for large scale fibre optic projects in Scandinavia, The Netherlands, France,
Spain and Ireland, a total of some 200,000 subscriber connections and a small
percentage of the predicted 17 million connections that are expected to be made
to European homes by 2012 (source Draka).
Draka plans to offer Draka XS.Net as a full, dedicated service beginning in
February 2008 or as an outsourced solution, working together with contracting
and civil engineering companies who will be certified to use Draka XS.Net
modelling tools, logistics and planning software. Certification will be
accomplished through new training facilities which Draka is putting in place in
its European offices. In addition, Draka plans to license its proprietary Draka
XS.Net software to engineering consultants in order to extend fibre network
building expertise to a broader range of market sectors and geographical areas.
“We’re very excited about the possibilities that Draka XS.Net will open up not
only to Draka but to investors and other stakeholders looking at the
regeneration of revenue generating service activities through the integrated
access networks of the future,” said Karel Helsen. “Currently, no other
manufacturer has this kind of resource. This places Draka in a pole position to
be a strong player in this key emerging industry.”
Draka XS.Net: a facilitator for standardisation
Diagram: Next-generation access networks are now replacing copper networks with
fibre optic connections throughout European cities, direct to the office or
home. They provide massive bandwidth to cope with new multimedia services and
guarantee internet broadband capacities exceeding 100 Mb/s, eliminating the
attenuation, maintenance and conversion issues associated with current copper
networks
About Draka Comteq
Draka, headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is a € 2.5 billion, publicly
listed (Euronext) company with 9,145 employees worldwide. Draka consists of two
groups, Draka Cableteq, which handles low-voltage and special purpose cable
activities and Draka Comteq, responsible for the production and sale of optical
fibre, cable and communication infrastructure solutions. Draka Comteq is a
global leader in optical fibre technology and cabling solutions, with a
comprehensive suite of network design and engineering services. For more
information please visit www.draka.com
