Alcatel to build integrated telecom network for the South Pars gas project in Iran

Paris, April 8, 2004 - Alcatel today announced that it has signed a multi-million US dollar contract to provide a fully integrated communication solution to equip, before end of 2006, an onshore gas plant and three offshore platforms of the South Pars gas field in Iran.

Alcatel will design, integrate, supply, install and commission all communication systems required for phases 6, 7 and 8 of the South Pars gas development field, which should help Iran to establish itself as a major world gas producer. This solution will enable to control the overall network and operate the unmanned offshore platforms from the on-shore gas plant.

Alcatel's communication solution includes a terrestrial and submarine cable network and associated SDH optical multi-service systems interconnected to radio and fixed communication systems, safety and security systems as well as a centralized network management platform. This project also requires specific engineering skills and strong project management capabilities.

The contract has been awarded by the joint-venture TIJD - on behalf of the joint venture Toyo Engineering Corp, Industrial Development and Renovation Organization, JCG Corp. and Daelim Industrial on behalf of Petropars Ltd, the main contractor of Pars Oil and Gas Co, a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and the operator of the field.

Tomoharu Horiwaki, Toyo Engineering Corporation, Project Manager of Engineering Office for South Pars 6, 7 and 8 project, said, "We chose Alcatel as our partner because of its experience in undertaking complex integration projects. We also believe that their expertise in the telecommunication field will help us better meet our customer's requirements. Alcatel's contracting experience and its understanding of the project's risks were also key factors in our decision".

Frederic Rose, President of Alcatel's integration and services activities, added: "Following similar success in the region, this complex project is a key reference in a demanding market such as Iran. It confirms our strong capability, as a global communication solutions provider, to integrate multi-technology systems and provide all needed services for the communication demand of our customers in the oil and gas market."