Breakthrough FTTH Solution Makes EU-Wide Fibre a Viable Option

Milan, 20th February, 2013 - Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cables and systems industry, is showcasing its ground-breaking RetractaNet^XS direct buried retractable cable at this week's FTTH Council Europe Conference which takes place in London on 19-21 of February.

RetractaNet^XS is an outdoor underground solution ideally suited for FTTH deployments. It employs specially manufactured retractable cable from the Optical Distribution Point splice closure to the customer premises. The RetractaNet^XS Solution for OSP applications employs a breakthrough direct buried RetractaCable that is filled with small fibre modules. These modules are designed to be cut at one point in the network and retracted to another where they can be fed or blown through microducts directly to the customer premises.

Several successful pilot projects using the product have already been launched by Prysmian Group and its partners including Reggefiber, VolkerWessels Telecom, Jelcer Networks, Deutsche Glasfaser and BAM. The projects demonstrate that the ambitious fibre roll-out goals set by the EU Digital Agenda may be easier to meet than anticipated.

Projects include the deployment of a fibre network in Noorderveld, Netherlands, a sewer-based solution in Lonneker, Netherlands and a further successful project carried out in the Bocholt Bario district, which is now being called 'the fastest village in North Rhine-Westphalia'.

With the unique physical properties and technical specifications of RetractaNet^XS, ducts can be installed at a depth of 30cm instead of the normal 60 or 120cm, making it possible to lay 600 metres of fibre a day, limit public inconvenience and significantly reduce CO2 output.

"This solution makes rollouts faster, reduces pollution and cuts labour costs. It provides quick connections at a low total cost of ownership, through significant savings on labour and materials. Compared to traditional P2P network solutions, RetractaNet^XS can reduce the overall cost of OSP network deployment by 7%-9%," explains Edgar Aker, Director Telecom Benelux, Prysmian Group. "RetractaNet^XS is a prime example of our 'Value Innovation' concept, which essentially means we are rethinking technologies, in order to come up with instantly applicable solutions for real challenges that our clients face."

Speaking today at the conference, Alessandro Pirri, Director Connectivity and FTTH at Prysmian Group, will discuss the benefits of RetractaNet^XS and innovative solutions for FTTH deployment in less densely populated areas. As technology reaches a good level of maturity in the development of efficient solutions in high density scenarios, operators and service providers are now beginning to devote their attention to those areas where the return on investment has been less appealing.

Prysmian Group is Gold Sponsor at the FTTH Conference, the world's largest Fibre to the Home event, held in London's ExCel Exhibition Centre (February 19-21). The company is exhibiting on booth G13 and has a number of speakers at the conference.

For more information about the event or for details of the programme visit www.ftthcouncil.eu.

Prysmian Group
Prysmian Group is world leader in the energy and telecom cables and systems industry. With sales of some €8 billion in 2011, about 22,000 employees across 50 countries and 97 plants, the Group is strongly positioned in high-tech markets and provides the widest range of products, services, technologies and know-how. In the Energy sector, Prysmian Group operates in the business of underground and submarine power transmission cables and systems, special cables for applications in many different industrial sectors and medium and low voltage cables for the construction and infrastructure industry. In the Telecom sector, the Group manufactures cables and accessories for the voice, video and data transmission industry, offering a complete range of optical fibres, optical and copper cables and connectivity systems. Prysmian is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange in the Blue Chip index.

Media Relations
Lorenzo Caruso
Communication Director
Ph. 0039 02 6449.1
lorenzo.caruso@prysmiangroup.com

Investor Relations
Luca Caserta
Investor Relations Director
Ph. 0039 02 6449.1
luca.caserta@prysmiangroup.com

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