MILAN, Italy -- Pirelli is ready for the market launch of its new products – systems, modules and components based on the advanced research of Pirelli Labs - for optical networking and broadband access by the end of the year. These products, along with Pirelli’s latest models of optic fibers, will be presented at the next ECOC (European Conference on Optical Communication), taking place in Stockholm, Sweden, from September 5th to 9th. Pirelli will be at ECOC for the second consecutive year with its own stand 417.

With a full range of vertically integrated products, Pirelli is a world leader in optical networking, and is going to play a decisive role in the future of Telecommunications. Pirelli pioneered photonics and drove the evolution of Optical Communications in the early 90s, with the first EDFA developed and the first DWDM systems installed in operator’s live networks.

In order to better exploit opportunities deriving from these markets, Pirelli established a brand new business unit in its Pirelli Telecom Cables and Systems Sector: Pirelli Telecom Systems, which achieved a 2003 turnover of approximately 28 million Euros with a 2004 target of more than 50 million Euros. In turn, it has two different divisions, dedicated to Photonics and Broad Band Access.

Pirelli Photonics Products division is presenting at ECOC a wide range of optical systems, subsystems and components specifically designed to provide customers the best compromise between performances and cost in the metro network arena. Tunable Laser DTL-C13 is a CW external cavity laser for advanced optical networking systems. Radio over Fiber technology enables the remotization, via fiber optic link, of the 3G wireless networks Antenna Units. Metro access system City8TM is a carrier class low cost CWDM transport system targeted to cope with the issues of metropolitan scenarios.

Pirelli Broadband Access division is presenting its complete range of Broadband CPEs, the DISCUS™ family, spanning from Access Gateways to Set Top boxes, remotely managed by a state of the art management and provisioning system.

“Over the last year, our products have received a very positive feedback by prospective customers. In particular, the broadband access solutions developed by Pirelli are being adopted by some of the most important telecommunication players in Europe. Our products support companies to pursue their economic targets: optimizing investments, speeding up time to revenue and increasing profitability”, says Mauro Sacchetto, CEO of Pirelli Telecom Systems.

Pirelli SpA