Amsterdam // 2004-09-10

Volker Stevin Telecom builds automated FTTH broadband network for Dutch cooperative "Ons Net", based on PacketFront´s Technology

PacketFront, the next generation broadband infrastructure provider and leader in open access fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology, has announced at IBC 2004 that it is working with Volker Stevin Telecom, a division of Dutch construction company Volker Wessels, to build the Netherlands’ largest FTTH network in the city of Nuenen. The fully automated, open access network will be based on PacketFront’s Intelligent Broadband Solution and will offer 8,000 households a comprehensive selection of ‘triple play’ broadband services - TV/video, telephony and Internet.

Volker Stevin Telecom will build and operate the network, while PacketFront’s Intelligent Broadband Solution allows multiple service providers to offer competing broadband services to Nuenen’s households over the same physical infrastructure. PacketFront’s solution will also enable all day-to-day traffic management and billing.

"We had to find a solution that offers the users true freedom of choice, in terms of both service providers and the services themselves," said Marco Westenberg, Manager Business Development of the Volker Wessels Telecom Group. "It was also vital that the solution was user-friendly both for the consumer and for us, regardless of the size and growth of the network. PacketFront’s solution is ideal in this respect, offering us exactly the flexibility and automation possibilities we were looking for. This allows us to reduce the network operating costs by minimising staffing and management requirements."

The key component of PacketFront’s Intelligent Broadband Solution is BECS™, the award-winning service control and provisioning system. BECS enables operators to build and manage fully automated broadband networks with on-demand, self-provisioning functionality. This gives households the ability to increase capacity and change services for themselves, cutting out the delay of waiting for a third party to make the changes.

"The Dutch FTTH market continues to be one of the most progressive in Europe, with freedom of choice in services becoming increasingly important," said Martin Thunman, CEO of PacketFront. "But flexibility is also important to operators - the broadband market is constantly changing and network owners need to use solutions that allow them to easily switch business models whenever new requirements are identified. The PacketFront solution is built with this in mind. We not only offer our customers a flexible, easy-to-manage solution, but also the skills needed for them to develop their networks in the future."

The Nuenen network is based on single mode, single fibre all the way to the users. 7,200 of the 8,000 households have already signed up for connection to the FTTH network.

About Volker Wessels
Volker Stevin Telecom is a division of Volker Wessels, a Dutch construction group, with over 15,700 employees, known for its innovative way of working. Volker Wessels focuses on the design, development, realisation and management of building projects. The activities of Volker Wessels can roughly be divided into three spheres: Building & Property Development, Specialist Techniques & Services and Infrastructure. Within the sphere Infrastructure, Volker Stevin Telecom focuses on the design, realisation, management and maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure.

About Ons Net
The business model applied to Nuenen is based on the cooperative model. Mr. Henri Smits, chairman of the Dutch Foundation Broadband Now, and Mr. Kees Rovers, director of Close the Gap, are convinced when the project in Nuenen is successful, the model can be used for a further roll-out in the Netherlands and places all over the world.