According to Padtec's international market manager, Henrique Bastos Graciosa, "the choice acknowledges Padtec's consolidated presence in the Argentinean market, the result of the aggressive internationalization strategy adopted by our company over the years, through which we setup direct operations in the Argentinean, Colombian and Mexican markets".

Padtec, as the market leader in Brazil, is currently developing its first Long Haul network in Argentina. The company, through this project with Silica Networks, consolidates itself as a global provider of tailored high technology solutions.

With an investment of over half a million dollars, Silica Networks has concluded the process of DWDM technology incorporation into its fiber-optics network, linking Buenos Aires to Blanca Bay. The multiplexers of the newly installed optic networks enable the current network transmission capacity to be multiplied twenty-fold to 20-40 Gbps, and with growth capacity of up to 160 Gbps.

With this project stage completed, the company begins its process to incorporate this technology into the fiber-optics network linking Blanca Bay to Neuquén, and previews new investments to augment the transport capacity in the network's northern sector by the second half of 2009.

According to the president of Silica Networks, Horacio Martinez, "the apex of the new services, of mobile as well as land line telecom carriers, broad band service providers and content distributors, leads to a substantial increase in network interconnection and transport demand. Our objective is to consolidate Silica Networks as the administrator of complex projects, as well as provider of management, maintenance and transport of high capacity services for the market of telecommunication carriers and content providers, with special attention dedicated to the country's inland region, where there is high demand for quality services that enable reduction in the digital gap".

About Silica Networks

Silica Networks is a full provider of fiber-optics infrastructure, maintenance and transport services. Its service portfolio includes connectivity to the Internet, fiber-optics transport, as well as the design, construction and maintenance of client networks. Silica Networks has a network of over four thousand kilometers of fiber linking Argentina and Chile, and is one of the few independent and highly experienced operators in the communications convergence world.

About Padtec

Padtec is a company dedicated to the development, manufacturing and sale of optic communication systems. The company provides solutions for long distance networks as well as metropolitan and access networks.

With its main office located in Campinas (São Paulo – Brazil), and offices in Argentina, Colombia and Mexico, Padtec has distinguished itself through its presence in the trunking networks of the largest telecommunication service providers of Latin America.