COLT and Nokia Siemens Networks win Global Telecoms Business award for Fixed Network Infrastructure Innovation

Recognized for innovative use of Carrier Ethernet technology to deploy a Wide Area Network (WAN) through Europe

London, United Kingdom - COLT, a leading European provider of business communications and Nokia Siemens Networks jointly won the Global Telecoms Business (GTB) award for Fixed Network Infrastructure Innovation. The companies were recognized for their pioneering use of Carrier Ethernet to roll out a 25,000 km Wide Area Network through Europe. Powered by Nokia Siemens Networks’ industry leading A- series family of Carrier Ethernet switches, COLT built a Multiple Service Platform (MSP) transport system to seamlessly connect European businesses and government to its fiber network.

“The development of Ethernet technology is evolving rapidly and customer demand continues to grow,” commented Dr Alireza Mahmoodshahi, Chief Technology Officer, COLT. “In the last year we have successfully deployed our Next Generation Carrier Ethernet platform giving us the ability to enhance our services further with faster provisioning times, greater flexibility and new features for customers.”

COLT was looking for a solution that would help extend its leadership of carrier Ethernet. The requirement was to build a Multi Service Platform with superior performance, network and service level scalability, and lower operating costs. The Nokia Siemens Networks’ A-series family of Carrier Ethernet switches managed by the carrier-class ASPEN software suite (management and provisioning platform) gave COLT a complete end-to-end solution.

“This innovation is not just about cost-saving, but about making the highest levels of service performance possible,” added Andy Tempest, Customer Team Head for UK operators, Nokia Siemens Networks. “At the crux was our industry leading Carrier Ethernet switches which complemented COLT’s technical and marketing vision to truly create differentiated value for their customers.”

The GTB Innovation Awards, organized by the Global Telecoms Business magazine are designed to showcase innovative projects involving telecom operators and service providers around the world, in association with their vendors and suppliers. The Innovation Awards 2009 were held in London with winners honored at a specially organized dinner on June 16, 2009.

About COLT

COLT is a leading European provider of business communications. COLT specializes in providing data, voice and managed services to major businesses, SMEs and wholesale customers. COLT operates a 13-country, 25,000km network that includes metropolitan area networks in 34 major European cities with direct fiber connections into 16,000 buildings and 18 COLT data centers. COLT Telecom Group S.A. is listed on the London Stock Exchange (COLT). Information about COLT and its services can be found at www.colt.net.

About Nokia Siemens Networks

Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading global enabler of telecommunications services. With its focus on innovation and sustainability, the company provides a complete portfolio of mobile, fixed and converged network technology, as well as professional services including consultancy and systems integration, deployment, maintenance and managed services. It is one of the largest telecommunications hardware, software and professional services companies in the world. Operating in 150 countries, its headquarters are in Espoo, Finland.
www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

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