SEOUL, South Korea -- Samsung Electronics announced today it is extending its fibre optics business into the European railway telecommunication market. One year ago, Samsung was awarded an exclusive 5-year contract to supply over 10,000 km of fibre optic cables to Network Rail for its UK railway network. Now, Samsung is delighted to have completed a successful first year with deliveries in excess of 2,000 km to the new customer.

Samsung has been supplying a broad range of fibre optic products mainly traditional telecommunications and cable TV markets. Now the company is diversifying the customer base by serving Network Rail, one of the most prominent and advanced railway utility companies in the UK.

British Network Rail is currently building a fixed telecommunications network (FTN) to provide a platform to support its proposed GSM-R networks and operational railway circuits across England, Scotland and Wales. The FTN is scheduled for completion in 2006 to accommodate the GSM-R network and operational railway circuits. Information technology data traffic and business telephony traffic will subsequently be migrated to the FTN.

“Samsung is delighted to have been selected for this most prestigious contract and looks forward to a long lasting and successful partnership with Network Rail.” says Byeong-Bok Jeon, the recently appointed Vice President and new General Manager of the Samsung Fiberoptics Division. “Our highest quality fibre optic cable will ensure superior reliability and performance for our customer’s current and future network needs.”

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.