OPTUS WINS NUCLEAR MONITORING ROLE

Cable & Wireless Optus today announced a seven-year deal to monitor the Pacific Ocean Region by satellite for the international Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), the organisation with global responsibility for the Treaty, and UK-based HOT Telecommunications have set up an International Monitoring System (IMS) of over 320 monitoring stations throughout the world.

The global network of monitoring stations, linked via satellite and terrestrial lines, will oversee the earth for evidence of nuclear explosions to ensure observance of the Treaty.

Under the terms of the seven-year contract with HOT, Optus will support and operate a communications hub for the Pacific Ocean region, collecting data from over 60 monitoring stations.

Alan English, Project Director of the CTBTO Project for HOT, said Optus's expertise in this specialised area of satellite technology would be essential in providing a network that met stringent requirements for reliability and availability.

Bob Ricker, Global Communications Infrastructure Section Chief of the CTBTO, said he was impressed with Optus's facilities and fully supported the awarding of the Pacific contract.

Dr Stephen Rotheram, Managing Director, Networks for Optus, said he was very pleased Optus's satellite expertise was receiving global recognition.

The contract requires Optus to manage data transmission across the land and oceans of Australia, New Zealand, parts of Asia and Antarctica.

The CTBTO global communications network uses the Hughes Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite system to collect data from remote monitoring stations across the globe.

The monitoring stations generate data from different types of sensor - seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide - designed to detect major events on the earth's surface. For example, the sites can detect earthquakes or nuclear explosions underground, under the sea or in the air.

There are currently 12 remote sites operating in the Pacific region, mainly in Australia and New Zealand. There will be over 60 sites in total and these extend as far afield as Attu Island, Alaska; the Galapogos Islands; Macquarie Island, Australia; and Jawa Barat, Indonesia.

For more information:

Linda Collard
Cable & Wireless Optus
Phone: 02 9342 5045

Editors' Note:

Australia signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty on 24 September 1996 - the day it was opened for signature and this was ratified on 9 July 1998.

About the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT):

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty bans all nuclear explosions, for military or civilian purposes, anywhere in the world.

More information can be found at http://www.ctbto.org

About the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO):

The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO Preparatory Commission) was established on 19 November 1996 by a Resolution adopted by the Meeting of States Signatories at the United Nations in New York.

The Preparatory Commission was established to prepare for the Treaty's entry into force. This will occur 180 days after the Treaty has been ratified by the 44 States listed in its Annex 2. Following the first conference of the States Parties to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, the Preparatory Commission will cease to exist and the CTBTO will be established.

The CTBTO Preparatory Commission is an international organisation financed by the CTBT States Signatories.

It has a strong technical focus, with some 80 per cent of its budget dedicated to the establishment of the global verification regime.

The activities of the Preparatory Commission are:

1. Establishment of a global verification regime to monitor compliance with the comprehensive ban on explosive nuclear testing.
2. Promotion of Treaty signature and ratification for early entry into force.

More information can be found at www.ctbto.org

About HOT Telecommunications:

HOT Telecommunications was formed to offer an interactive satellite communications network service that gives users a flexible, cost-efficient alternative to present telecommunications infrastructure. Major customers of HOT Telecommunications include the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and many major automotive organisations, including the Opel/Vauxhall division of General Motors.