MUNICH -- The network operator ICE, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, San José de Costa Rica, has commissioned the Siemens Information and Communication Networks Group (ICNetworks) to supply and install state-of-the-art EWSDexchanges with integrated ADSL broadband access. Thecontract is worth around 28 million US dollars. The order envisages expanding the telecommunications network in Costa Rica with Siemens technology by the middle of next year. The EWSD telecommunications technology will be used in the tourist centers along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica as well as nationwide at over 100 sites. Thanks to this modern telecommunications infrastructure, ICE will in future be able to offer its customers in Costa Rica fast internet access via attractive ISDN services and ADSL technology.Siemens EWSD is the most successful digital switching systemin the world. With over 265 million EWSD-switched linesacross the globe, Siemens is the number 1 supplier worldwide for carriers in this segment. Its customers include 300 fixed-network operators in 110 countries. EWSD is constantly being refined in order to exploit new business opportunities for network operators through new solutions. In connection with the SURPASS technology and product family, EWSD also supports migration to the Next Generation Network (NGN).Siemens Information and Communications Networks Inc.