MedNautilus and CYTA will build the first submersible ring to Cyprus – connecting Cyprus and Europe directly - the Minerva System.

The Mediterranean Nautilus Ltd. (fully owned subsidiary of Telecom Italia Sparkle) and Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA) signed an agreement today for the construction of a new ring from Cyprus to Sicily, the Minerva System.
The Minerva System will introduce a ring to Cyprus by adding a Branching Unit and a new segment to the MedNautilus main system in addition to the upgrading of the existing cable to Cyprus.
The Minerva will use a dedicated express fiber pair along the ring with 10 Gb/s DWDM wavelengths and will connect Cyprus and Italy on a dedicated direct link bypassing Turkey, Greece and Israel. From Sicily to Europe the Minerva will be connected to the MedNautilus Pan European network.
Minerva will be ready for service during the 3rd quarter of 2007 with the first phase ready for service during the second quarter of 2007.
Mr. Stefano Mazzitelli, MedNautilus Chairman and Telecom Italia Sparkle CEO, added "We are happy to provide CYTA, which is already a reputable customer of MedNautilus with the first ring to Cyprus through the only ring in the Mediterranean. We hope that with the new topology, CYTA will be able to provide our services also to neighboring countries".
Mr. Francesco Nanotti, MedNautilus CEO, added "The Minerva is part of our expansion plan in the Eastern Mediterranean and we hope to introduce services to other countries in the region within 2007".
The Minerva System will be built by Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN).
Mr. Nikos Timotheou, CYTA CEO said "With the construction of MINERVA, CYTA’s East Mediterranean hub will be further enhanced, enabling it to provide reliable telecommunications connectivity at competitive prices, to serve the island’s requirements as well as those of neighboring countries".

For further information, please contact
Gabriella Improta
Telecom Italia Sparkle
Marketing Wholesale Services- Marketing Communications
Email: gabriella.improta@telecomitalia.it