<AsiaNet> Verizon Business Joins Asia-Pacific Consortium to Build First

Next-Generation Optical Cable Directly Linking U.S., China

(BEIJING, Dec. 18 AsiaNet=연합뉴스)

'Trans-Pacific Express' to Offer Greater Speed, Reliability and Efficiency

Verizon Business today signed a construction and maintenance agreement with

a consortium that includes China Telecom and China Netcom to build the first

next-generation undersea optical cable system directly linking the U.S.

mainland and China.

The new system, to be named Trans-Pacific Express (TPE), will use the

latest optical technology to provide greater capacity and higher speeds to

meet the dramatic increase in demand for IP, data and voice communications

with the Asia-Pacific region.

The new fiber-optic cable can support the equivalent of 62 million

simultaneous phone calls, more than 60 times the overall capacity of the

existing cable directly linking the United States and China.

While TPE will initially provide capacity of up to 1.28 terabits per

second (Tbps), the system will have design capacity of up to 5.12 Tbps to

support future Internet growth and advanced applications such as video and

e-commerce. In another first, individual customers can access the cable system

at wavelengths of up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps), the equivalent of

nearly 121,000 simultaneous phone calls.

Verizon Business is the only U.S.-based member among the initial parties

of the consortium, which consists of -- in addition to China Telecom and China

Netcom - China Unicom, Korea Telecom and Chunghwa Telecom (Taiwan). The TPE

cable also provides more diversity from other undersea routes and more

efficient connections to a number of countries in Asia where Verizon Business

has large business customers.

"This state-of-the-art cable will support high-speed traffic to the

world's fastest-growing region -- the Asia-Pacific," said Fred Briggs, Verizon

Business executive vice president of operations and technology. "Our

leadership in this project builds on our important existing relationships in

China, further recognizes the emergence of China as a diverse communications

hub for Asia, and reflects our company's commitment to help U.S. and other

global companies compete worldwide."

Construction of the new cable system, which will extend more than 18,000

kilometers, will begin in the first quarter of 2007. Completion is scheduled

in the third quarter of 2008. The project represents an investment by

consortium members of more than $500 million (U.S.).

"In addition to a diverse route directly to China, this cable will add

capacity and the higher-speed service customers are demanding," Briggs said.

"We also will improve provisioning intervals and reduce latency for traffic

between the United States and many countries in the region."

The cable will have a landing point provided by Verizon Business at

Nedonna Beach, Ore., on the U.S. West Coast and will land on the China

mainland at Qingdao and Chongming. TPE will also have landings in Tanshui,

Taiwan, and Keoje, South Korea.

Verizon Business already owns and operates one of the largest global IP

networks, spanning 150 countries across six continents with more than 446,000

route miles. The company is involved in more than 65 submarine cable networks

carrying mission-critical traffic for multi-national customers worldwide.

Recently, Verizon Business deployed an advanced technology trans-Atlantic

"mesh" network that interconnects, or meshes, various existing cables,

resulting in more diverse routes and multiple millisecond restoration paths.

When completed, TPE will complement the company's capacity in existing

submarine cables in the Asia-Pacific region. It also represents a

continuation of the company's strategy to remain an active leader in the

development of submarine cable systems. Verizon Business has ownership in more

than 18 cable systems in the Asia-Pacific region including: Japan-U.S.,

China-U.S., Southern Cross (United States, New Zealand and Australia) and the

new SEA-ME-WE-4 cable, put into service in December 2005, linking Europe and

Asia.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a

leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT)

solutions to large business and government customers worldwide. Combining

unsurpassed global network reach with advanced technology and professional

service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless

business solutions to customers around the world. For more information, visit

http://www.verizonbusiness.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches

and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other

information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at

www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News

Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news

releases.

SOURCE Verizon Business

CONTACT: Media: Gil Broyles, United States,

+1-918-590-6820, gilbert.a.broyles@verizon.com; or

Faith Brewitt, Beijing/Hong Kong,

+1-852-2894-6321, faith.brewitt@hillandknowlton.com.hk

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html

Web site: http://www.verizon.com

(VZ)

anet@yna.co.kr

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