Embratel Launches International High-Capacity Fiber-Optic Network - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, May 15, 2000

A videoconference held Wednesday, May 10, linking President Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil with the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Guterres, celebrates the definitive start-up of operations for Embratel's new subsea fiber-optic cable system: Atlantis 2. With a total length of 12,000 kilometers and a capacity of 40 Gbps, the Atlantis 2 Project connects Brazil and Argentina to Europe and Africa through stations at Las Toninas (Argentina) and Fortaleza (Northeast Brazil), as well as Portugal, Spain, Senegal and Cape Verde.

With the start-up of Atlantis 2, Embratel can now offer the market an international digital system running on latest-generation technology, well able to deal with rising demands for Internet, telefony, multimedia and video facilities, as well as other services requiring high transmission capacities, enhancing the quality of international communications in Brazil.

The Atlantis 2 implementation project absorbed some US$ 370 million, invested by 25 companies through an international consortium representing the world's largest telecommunications operators. The lead investor in this consortium, Embratel channeled US$ 100 million to this system.

"The new international fiber-optic system launched by Embratel will ensure full service for its rising international communications media demands," explains Edson Soffiatti, International Director/Embratel. Together with two other cables Columbus III (Europe/USA) and Americas 2 (Brazil/USA) Atlantis 2 will complete Embratel's Atlantic Digital Ring.

Through this Ring, Brazil will be linked to the USA, Europe and Africa by diversified routes with reciprocal back-up capacities. This modern, versatile network also allows Embratel to handle demands between Brazil and the USA through the Atlantis 2/Columbus III route, until the Americas 2 system starts up operations scheduled for mid-2000 completing the Atlantic Digital Ring.

High-Speed Services

Using the infrastructure of the Atlantis 2 System, Embratel installed two additional pairs of 40 Gbps fiber-optic cables for its own exclusive use, running between Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro. This creates an expressway to South and Southeast Brazil sized to handle the entire flow of international telecommunications traffic arriving in Fortaleza over the subsea cables.

The first telecommunications enterprise in Brazil to build a nationwide communications-based digital superhighway that is also international in scope, using sophisticated technology, Embratel also has its own fiber-optic network that is over 23,000 kilometers long, in addition to 24,000 kilometers of fully-digital microwave network and a nationwide satellite communications network with over sixty land stations. This impressive infrastructure allows Embratel to provide top-quality, high-speed voice, data and Internet transmission facilities that are also completely reliable.