TEL AVIV -- Eletronorte, a major Brazilian electricity company, has chosen to deploy Multiservice Access Platform (MAPT) products from RAD Data Communications as access equipment in its 1,600 kilometer-long (1,000 mile) fiber optic SDH network. The network, transmitting at STM-4 speeds, provides management and control of all Eletronorte substations and network devices. When complete, it will be one of Brazil's most extensive SDH networks over OPGW (optical fiber ground wire) cables, which simultaneously support overhead power transmission and high-performance communications applications.The project will connect the Eletronorte management system in Brasília with 18 sites in its concession area, covering hundreds of small cities. The MAP solution chosen by Eletronorte is based on RAD's DXC-8RT compact multiservice access nodes and the MegaplexT family of multiservice access multiplexers. The DXC units will be used to distribute traffic among the substations. The DXC improves utilization of E1 lines by grooming several fractional E1 lines onto one link. By reducing the number of costly ports required on the SDH add-drop multiplexer (ADM), Eletronorte will enjoy significant cost savings. In addition, RAD's modular Megaplex-2100T and Megaplex-2104T multiplexers, which will be installed at the substations, will transfer voice and high and low speed data services required forremotely controlling the network. The DXC and Megaplex units are fullyredundant, enhancing their dependability."This solution will allow full telecontrol of the billing services in all Eletronorte substations and plants, and supply the company with all LAN and Internet transport, including voice deployment," states José de Castilhos, manager at FTD, RAD's distributor partner in Brazil. Given the size and extent of the network, Castilhos says that Eletronorte will be able to offer telecommunication circuits for third parties, should it decide to do so in the future.RAD Data Communications Ltd.