published on Wednesday, June 1, 2005

Telindus and SARA win contract for management of SURFnet6

Haasrode/Belgium – Utrecht/Amsterdam, 1 June 2005 17.45 h. CET – SURFnet has signed an agreement with Telindus, the international specialist in network solutions, and SARA, the Computing and Networking Services company, for the development of a Network Operations Centre (NOC) for the sixth generation of the SURFnet network in the Netherlands. The NOC services comprise two components: on the one hand the operational network management, such as incident management, configuration management, reporting, change management, performance management and security management including 24/7 monitoring of the network and on the other hand, support of research activities and an active contribution to the innovative objectives of SURFnet6, which is currently being built in the context of GigaPort. Telindus and SARA are expected to provide these services until the end of 2010.

The cooperation between Telindus and SARA is based on the parties' wide-ranging experience with SURFnet. In 2004, the Dutch affiliate of Telindus won the contract for the implementation and the maintenance of the SURFnet6 network. SARA was responsible for the operational management of the preceding generations of the SURFnet network.

SURFnet has opted for a Telindus - SARA combination because of their know-how and experience in the field of change management and the flexibility of the provided NOC services. For the migration from SURFnet5 to SURFnet6 Telindus and SARA's experience is complementary. Moreover, the two companies invest heavily in know-how of the latest network technologies.

The NOC service contract involves an yearly amount of 2 million euros for Telindus and SARA (50% of which for Telindus and 50% for SARA). The 24/7 NOC services are supported by the NOC ‘Telindus International Service Centre’ in Belgium, whereas the change management and the research and innovation support will come chiefly from Amsterdam.

SURFnet is the organisation behind the Dutch higher education and research computer network. SURFnet6 is a next generation hybrid optical and IP network, which will connect all Dutch universities, academic hospitals and other colleges and research centres with each other and the rest of the world at the end of this year.

"The new network concepts implemented in SURFnet6 demand a great deal from the Network Operations Centre. We are happy to have found a partner in the combination of Telindus and SARA, which shows that stability and innovation can go hand in hand", says Erik-Jan Bos, head of SURFnet’s Network Services department.

Marco Gouw, Account Manager at Telindus, adds: “SURFnet6 is one of the most innovative networks in the world. The management of the network is very knowledge-intensive. Sufficient reason for SURFnet to leave it to Telindus and SARA. SURFnet can now focus on the innovation of the network services and the applications for colleges and research centres. We ensure the availability and stability of the network.”

What's revolutionary about SURFnet6 is the fact that it is a hybrid network. In addition to IP-routed traffic, institutes can also use lightpaths. Demanding scientific applications in particular will be routed far more effectively and inexpensively over lightpaths without affecting the normal IP traffic.

Eric Heemskerk, Business Development Manager of SARA, says: “This hybrid infrastructure is important to SURFnet because it provides both a solution for the traffic between many different end-destinations, and for the growing number of large point-to-point data flows. These last applications are used chiefly by research centres and scientific institutes, e.g. to use supercomputers and visualisation and data storage facilities via a grid infrastructure.”

With SURFnet6 the Netherlands will have one of the most innovative research networks in the world, enabling the further development of, for instance, e-Science, e-Engineering and e-Business.

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About SURFnet
SURFnet is the Dutch computer network for higher education and research and connects more than 150 colleges and research centres with each other and the rest of the world. To remain in the lead SURFnet puts in a sustained effort to improve its network infrastructure and develop new applications, ensuring faster and better access to new Internet services for its users. For more information, please go to www.surfnet.nl.

About SARA
SARA Computing and Networking Services is an innovative ICT service centre, which - for more than 30 years - has provided a comprehensive package of services and products in the field of high performance computing, high performance networking and infrastructure services. SARA's customers include scientific and educational institutes, government bodies and companies. SARA is an independent organisation with offices in Amsterdam and Almere and works with many partners.
SARA's most eye-catching activities are the hosting of the national super computer services (Teras and Aster), the Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) and the virtual reality facility, the CAVE™. Since the start of the SURFnet IP-network in 1989 SARA has been responsible for the technical and operational management of this innovation network for Dutch universities, scientific centres and educational institutes. An important supplement to the available facilities is SARA's extensive expertise and the consulting and supporting activities arising from this. For more information, please go to www.sara.nl.

About Telindus
Telindus Group NV [Euronext Brussels:TEL] is an international ICT company offering network-based solutions, meeting business and public-sector needs. Telindus also services these markets as a solutions and sourcing partner delivering secure multimedia network solutions, underpinned by management & support services.
With over 35 years experience in ICT, Telindus is investing heavily in expertise to service modern telecommunications networks throughout their life cycle. Telindus specializes in offering top-quality Consulting, Integration and Management services in areas, such as, multimedia convergence, video-surveillance solutions, integrated security, mobility solutions and network access.
Telindus achieved a turnover of EUR 532 million in 2004, 38% from network services and 65% from network products, and is aiming at a 50:50 ratio by 2006. With an international team of 2,200 employees, Telindus is present in 14 countries including Western Europe, Hungary, Israel, China and Thailand.
Telindus' enviable track record and longstanding partnerships with leading equipment suppliers offers a safe route for enterprises, telecom operators and government bodies looking to deploy long-lasting networked ICT solutions.
Telindus is headquartered in Belgium. http://www.telindus.com/.

For further information
Telindus The Netherlands
Karin Van Ieperen
Marketing Manager
+31 30-247 75 42
karin.vanieperen@telindus.nl

Telindus Group
Investors, analysts and press
Hans Ooms
Investor Relations & Corporate Communication
Tel: +32 (0) 16 38 20 98
hans.ooms@telindus.be

SARA
Marina den Hartog
PR & Communications
+31 20-592 3000
m.den.hartog@sara.nl

Eric Heemskerk
Manager Business Development
+31 6-22792977
e.heemskerk@sara.nl

SURFnet
Marianne van der Valk
+31 30-2305305
marianne.vandervalk@surfnet.nl

Whizpr
Mirjam Hulsebos
+31 317-410483
telindus@whizpr.nl.