Pirelli and Panduit join forces.

Pirelli Telecom Cables & Systems has established an agreement with Panduit Ltd. to include its Sirocco Blown Fibre System in their structured cabling solutions.

Milan, 17 February 2003. Pirelli Telecom Cables & Systems has established an agreement with Panduit Ltd. to include its Sirocco Blown Fibre System in their structured cabling solutions. Italy will be the first market to benefit from the introduction of the system when it is officially launched at Cabling" in Milan on 25 - 26 February 2003.

The Sirocco blown fibre system is a flexible fibre-delivery solution that allows much of the cost of fibre to be deferred (avoiding dark just-in-case" fibre), while ensuring the potential for migration from copper to fibre (composite designs) or from standard to enhanced fibres for higher capacity systems (multimode, singlemode, OM3 and FineLight*). The solution is ideal in areas such as finance and education where flexibility and future network expansion are essential.

Optical fibre units of 2, 4, 8 or 12 fibres can be blown into tubing with 1, 2, 4, 7, 12, 19 or 24 sub-units. There is a full range of Blown Fibre tubing (indoor, duct and direct burial options), accessories (plug-in connectors) and fibre management products. The Sirocco system includes the blowing equipment and training of staff to install the products and provide an end to end solution.

Commenting on the joint venture, Panduits VP of Business Development, Steve Luczkiw, said, Pirellis Sirocco system components perfectly complement Panduits copper and fibre range. Blown fibre gives our customers the opportunity to meet todays requirements cost effectively while providing a clear upgrade path for any future needs."

Sirocco infrastructure products, which all fulfil conditions of the British Telecom Licence (made exclusively under licence from BT), together with Panduits range of patch panels, fibre outlets, patchcords and pigtails, provide an unparalleled solution and customers can take extra confidence in Panduits 25-year warranty programme, Certification Plus".

The first installation of the Sirocco system in Panduits structured cabling solution is planned for the first quarter of 2003 in Pirellis home country of Italy. Both Pirelli and Panduit consider that Italy presents a unique opportunity for the introduction of the Sirocco system in a premise application" said Luczkiw. This will take us into further joint projects around the world".

The product range has been used extensively in access environments for many years. Now we are beginning to see real opportunities in premise networks as customers need more and more bandwidth but are unsure about how to judge future demand" explains Andy Harbidge, Pirellis market manager for the Sirocco system. Sirocco gives them the opportunity to adapt to an uncertain future with a flexible system that can be extended, modified and upgraded with ease"
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Pirelli Telecom Cables and Systems is one of the world's foremost suppliers of telecommunications cable systems and is part of the Pirelli SpA Group which employs more than 37,000 people in 84 plants across the globe. In 2001 it achieved a turnover of more than Euro 7,5 billion, continuing to maintain a strong emphasis on innovative research.

Pirelli -- Architects of Light
For further information contact:
Pirelli SpA, Ivan Dompe, Tel: +39-02-6442-4249, Fax: +39-02-6442-4451.
Email: ivan.dompe@pirelli.com

About Panduit Network Connectivity Group
The Panduit Network Connectivity Group is a global leader in designing, manufacturing and supplying network connectivity solutions including fibre optic and copper connectors and patch cords, communication outlets and raceway, communication rack, cable tie and cable identification systems. Panduits products are a critical portion of a structured cabling system and represent solutions that directly support the performance, reliability, aesthetics and long term installed value of the entire networking infrastructure.

For further information contact:
Panduit Ltd, Tel: +44 (0)208 601 7200 Fax: +44 (0)208 601 7319.
Email: info@panduit.com

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