EuroWire January 2007

corporate news

€ 42million deal to boost development New Caledonia’s economic development will be boosted – thanks to a €42million deal between Alcatel and the Post and Telecommunications Office (OPT). Alcatel will roll out Gondwana-1, a submarine cable network to link New Caledonia with the Territory, which significantly increases the capacity of OPT’s network.

Completion, for the first quarter of 2008, will see the project offer high-speed connectivity to the Territory, and will link Nouméa, in New Caledonia, to Sydney, Australia, where it will interconnect with the international routes towards Europe and the US. A link will also connect Poindimié, on the New Caledonian East coast, to the Loyalty Islands. Alcatel will deploy its new-generation dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) submarine line terminal – the Alcatel 1620 Light Manager (LM), its

cables and repeaters, as well as installing its Optical Multi-Service Node (OMSN) systems to connect the network’s landing stations. All this will be managed by the Alcatel 1350 management suite. They will also be in charge of the configuration and integration of the terrestrial and submarine equipment. Alcatel – France Fax : +33 1 4076 1400 Website : www.alcatel.com Ken steps down after 54 years’ service Technical director Ken Barker has retired after 54 years’ service with Ormiston Wire, one of the oldest family-owned manufacturing companies in the UK. Ken, who joined the company after completing his National Service in 1952, progressed through the company until becoming in the mid-1970s when Ormiston’s were the major producer of small diameter stainless steel wire ropes for the yachting trade. He also led the development of mixed materials, i.e. Kevlar/tinned copper braid as antennas. Email : info@ormiston-wire.co.uk Website : www.ormiston-wire.co.uk AIM on target with Soco deal AIM, Inc, manufacturer of CNC wire bending machines and accessories, has chosen SOCO Machinery Ltd as its exclusive representative and service agency for Taiwan and Malaysia. SOCO will handle all inquiries and sales activity and can give clients demonstrations at its site at Taichung in Taiwan. SOCO Machinery Co Ltd – Taiwan Fax : +886 4 2359 2386 OrmistonWire – UK Fax : +44 208 569 8601 Ken Barker ▲ managing director after the retirement of John Ormiston. As technical director he oversaw and led the rapid expansion

Email : socomc@seed.net.tw Website : www.soco.com.tw

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EuroWire – January 2007