Telia Expands the Viking Network to the Czech Republic and Poland - Telia International Carrier, fiber optic communications systems - Brief Article

Fiber Optics Business, July 15, 2001

Telia's global multi-fiber optic network, the Viking Network, provides high-capacity bandwidth and offers end-to-end connectivity around the world. Telia International Carrier is now focusing on the realization of connecting the network in Central Europe.

The Czech Republic, and shortly also Poland, will be linked to the Viking Network via the German Ring, through large investments in fiber optic cable between important network nodes. With the infrastructure Telia International Carrier offers the entire value chain, from fibers and ducts to value-added service, and secures both high quality and low costs. The expansion of the Viking Network in the Czech Republic and Poland comprises the routes of Berlin-Warsaw, Warsaw-Cesky Tesin (Polish/Czech border), Cesky Tesin-Prague, and Prague-Dresden. The new route in the Czech Republic will be rolled out during the third quarter of this year and the Polish routes are in preparatory planning.

With the Prague-Cesky Tesin route via Warsaw to Berlin and from Berlin to Dresden and back to Prague, the ring will be complete, and Telia International Carrier in the Czech republic will be able to offer a service portfolio for transport network services with capacities ranging from a 2 Mbps up to 10 Gbps. Lower bandwidth services are already available.

Through Telia's extensive investments, operators in the Czech Republic and Poland are provided with infrastructure and capacity. This allows future traffic, both in shape of IP and voice communication. For customers who buy wavelengths in the network, new points of presence, (PoPs) are under preparation in Warsaw and Prague. Telia International Carrier is a leading supplier of international capacity in Poland and also one of the major suppliers of IP in Poland.

In the Czech Republic, Telia International Carrier has recently been granted licenses from the Czech Telecommunication Office to establish and operate a network, to provide international voice telecommunications, and leased line-based services in the market.