Cable & Wireless Optus, part of the global telecommunications group Cable & Wireless, has announced the availability of a new high-speed backbone IP (Internet Protocol) service - Cable & Wireless global.net.
Global.net delivers access to the single largest, truly global Internet backbone in the world. Traditionally, this service is provided via international circuits to the USA. With global.net, Cable & Wireless delivers this service direct to all major regions in the world, and to a growing number of individual countries.
Cable & Wireless global.net is a tailor made solution for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and carriers who require speedy, reliable and cost effective connectivity to a high quality global IP backbone and the Internet.
Global.net is the platform for Cable & Wireless to deliver direct to customers via high-speed links a full range of IP-based value added services such as VoIP (Voice Over IP), security, global web hosting, unified messaging and news and information services.
Commenting on the service, Stephen Beynon, Cable & Wireless Optus' Managing Director Data and Business Services said: "This initiative provides real value for Australians with a global portfolio. Global.net enables our carrier and ISP customers to offer faster, more reliable, feature-rich Internet services to their customers.
"Global.net delivers a global Internet solution today, based on the latest IP technologies, that will serve as a custom-built platform for the next generation of value-added IP services."
The Cable & Wireless backbone is a single logical IP network operating at speeds of up to OC192 (9.6 Gbit/s). It delivers congestion-free routing with full redundancy and a "no over-subscription" policy to ensure unmatched throughput. ISPs in more than 70 countries currently use and rely on the network. In Australia, the Cable & Wireless network carries more than 40 per cent of all Internet backbone traffic, providing Internet connectivity to more than one million users.
Initially, global.net will offer direct access to the Cable & Wireless Global IP Network via local, national or international circuits to one of 15 nodes worldwide - six in the USA, six in Europe and three in the Pacific Rim. This will grow to some 84 nodes by April 2001.
Cable & Wireless global.net will support a range of Internet services and will be backed by service level agreements guaranteeing network availability with proactive fault resolution and dynamic re-routing. Daily performance statistics are available for customers.
About Cable & Wireless
With customers in 70 countries, Cable & Wireless is a major global telecommunications business with revenue of around #8 billion in the year ended March 1999 and over 50,000 employees. Its businesses around the world offer a range of services spanning broadband data and Internet services, fixed and mobile voice, as well as interactive entertainment and information. Cable & Wireless' priority for expansion is the fast growing market of data and IP (Internet Protocol) services for business customers. Since November 1998, it has announced major investments in advanced networks in the US and Europe, the restructuring of Cable & Wireless Communications in the UK and has acquired full control of Cable & Wireless IDC in Japan to support this strategy. Cable & Wireless now holds a unique position in terms of global coverage and services to business customers.
About Cable & Wireless Optus
Cable & Wireless Optus (ASX:CWO) is Australia's leading integrated communications company - servicing more than three million customers every day. The company provides a broad range of communications services including mobile, business network services, Internet, local telephony, national and international long distance, as well as satellite and pay television services.
Since its establishment in 1992 as Australia's first private telecommunications carrier, Cable & Wireless Optus has created a level of infrastructure unmatched by a second telecommunications carrier anywhere in the world. The company has constructed, and continues to expand extensive fixed, mobile and satellite networks, including central business district and suburban local access networks.
With revenues of more than A$3.2 billion, Cable & Wireless Optus (www.cwo.com.au) is one of Australia's top 15 listed companies with a market capitalisation of more than A$13 billion. Cable & Wireless plc is Cable & Wireless Optus' largest shareholder owning 52.5% of the company's stock.
For more information:
Stephen Woodhill
Phone: 02 9342 7850