Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Ltd (Fujitsu), the leading supplier of high performance telecommunications solutions, has completed a major installation for BT that involves optical fibre access technology fed by microwave radio - the first project of its type within BT's network. The installation enables the island of St. Martin's, part of the Isles of Scilly, to receive the full range of telecom services from POTS to ISDN-2e. BT customers are linked to the mainland's core telecom network via Fujitsu's 18GHz (4 x 2M) PDH Radio System, with the access solution deploying Fujitsu's TPON (Telecommunications over Passive Optical Network) technology to ensure long-reach service delivery to the remote locations.

Fujitsu has worked closely alongside BT planners in Exeter and Bristol, and BT engineers on the islands, and the first services have already been successfully transferred from copper to TPON. This has allowed BT to fulfil the local demand - particularly from schools and businesses - for Internet access and digital services. Taking just 5 months from first surveys to turnkey completion, the installation initially delivers 15 ISDN-2e circuits and 90 telephony channels to St. Martin's, with considerable capacity for future expansion.

Colin Strong, BT's TPON Programme Manager, commented: "This is a ground-breaking installation and represents a model solution for providing remote customers with digital services. The combined radio/fibre approach offers significant savings - of around 50% - when compared to sub-aqua cable, the only alternative in this instance - together with a straightforward deployment. The project's success is due to the co-operative teamwork between the Fujitsu and BT teams, encompassing both the planning and engineering departments - all have made considerable contributions to the end result. Thanks to this project, a region more famed for its climate and tourist attractions has now joined the optical fibre age."

The core transmission for the St. Martin's installation is provided by Fujitsu's PDH Radio System, which transports up to 4 V5.1 ISDN30 ports from the neighbouring island of St. Mary's to the communications room on St. Martin's. Enabling the provision of a full range of access services, the TPON deployment on St. Martin's has the capability to deliver telephony, DDI, 30K, ISDN-2e and ISDN30, as well as Megastream and payphone services. Fujitsu has provided remote management facilities for both the radio system and TPON installation, reducing the burden on the island's maintenance resource. These facilities are integrated with BT's Customer Support System and allow, for example, the TPON equipment on St. Martin's to be managed from BT's TPON Element Manager in Bristol.

BT has deployed TPON technology extensively throughout its UK network, with installations ranging from the Millennium Dome to the Bluewater Park shopping centre, and commercial applications including Terminal 4 at London's Heathrow Airport. Enabling the cost-effective delivery of optical fibre in the local loop, TPON provides the flexibility for multi-service provision. It combines long-reach capability for rural locations, while saving duct space for urban deployment, with 128-line street cabinets now available.

Currently employing 1,230 staff around Europe, Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe is a strategic division of the Telecommunications Group, Fujitsu Limited, Japan - one of the world's largest communications equipment suppliers. Fujitsu's customer base includes wide-ranging contracts across the breadth of modern telecommunications networks. Focused on providing strategic end to end solutions, Fujitsu offers a complete turnkey service - from project planning, community liaison, cable laying and civil engineering, to the complete installation, implementation and ongoing maintenance.

Headquartered in Birmingham, Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe has extensive research and development facilities and also operates as part of Fujitsu's global manufacturing resource. The company has a long-established track record for product and service innovation, with extensive expertise in the field of leading edge optical transmission and telecommunications switching technology. This ranges from the development of the most advanced Photonic Network Solutions; to Passive Optical Networks; Fibre Access Systems; Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) networks; Advanced Switching Systems; Radio Access Systems and IP Applications; in addition to its TMN-compliant Network Management Systems.

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