1,600 kms of Fiber Optic Cable for Russian High-Speed Link

Milan, 5 April 2000 - The Russian operator JSC Gaztelecom has awarded Pirelli Cables and Systems with a major contract for the supply of underground fiber optic cables for a total length of over 1,600 kms. JSC Gaztelecom, the telecommunications branch of Russian giant gas producer Gazprom, has been purposely constituted for the exploitation of Gazprom's terrestrial telecom network. Pirelli's best-of-breed optical cables have been chosen by Gaztelecom for the building of the new "Moscow-Berlin" high-speed telecommunication line - linking Russia and Germany through Bielorussia and Poland - which is presently under construction and that should be activated by the end of this year.

The "Moscow-Berlin" link - running along the "Yamal Europe" gas pipeline - is the first optical communication line to be built by Gaztelecom, and will soon be followed by the "Blue Stream" project, a 2,500 kms gasduct that will connect Russia and Turkey, with a 400 kms section to be built under the Black Sea. When both high-capacity connections will be completed, Gaztelecom will have an advanced pan-European telecom network spanning from Russia to Northern and Southern Europe. The high-speed telecommunication link based on Pirelli's state-of-the-art fiber optic cables is thus a first, important step towards the creation of this international communication net running along Gazprom's pipeline system.

While confirming the global leadership of Pirelli Cables and Systems in the communication business, Gaztelecom's contract also represents the further strengthening of Pirelli's fiber optic cables leading position in the emerging Russian market.