GERMANTOWN, Md., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Optelecom-NKF, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPTC), a leading global provider of Siqura® IP surveillance solutions, today announced it was awarded a contract with the Direction Interdepartementale des Routes d'Ile-de-France (DIRIF) to implement a video surveillance system for acquiring, transmitting, and recording video in 23 tunnels in the Paris area. Directed and financed by the French Ministry of Equipment, it is the largest traffic monitoring project of its type ever implemented in Europe and the first to fully utilize automatic incident detection (AID) applications. Terms of the multi-year contract were not disclosed. "We're pleased to join companies such as SDEL, Satelec, Clemessy, Traficon -- all working to make France's highways among the safest in the world," said Dave Patterson, Optelecom-NKF's CEO and president. "This is a major endeavor. The overall project includes 1800 cameras that will stream MPEG-4 encoded video via Siqura video servers for real-time viewing and recording on Siqura intelligent network video recorders (i-NVRs). The project's Siqura video servers are H.264 ready, making this installation future proof for upgrades over time." This historic project is the result of recommendations made by the French Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Equipment, Transportation, and Housing, following an investigation of the 1999 Mont Blanc Tunnel fire, which resulted in the loss of 39 lives and an estimated 392 million euros in tunnel repairs. Today, every tunnel in France longer than 200 meters is required to be equipped with an AID solution. These solutions are able to detect all major incidents, such as slow moving or stopped vehicles, smoke, wrong-way drivers, and fallen objects. About Optelecom-NKF Optelecom-NKF, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPTC), manufacturer of Siqura® advanced video surveillance solutions, provides a full range of network products based on an open technology platform that simplifies integration and installation. Our Siqura solutions offer a perfect blend of ease of use and processing power, enabling end-users to optimize the effectiveness of their surveillance systems while reducing the total cost of ownership. All products and solutions are developed and tested for professional and missioncritical applications, such as at highway departments, airports, seaports, casinos, public transport authorities, hospitals, city centers, shopping centers, military bases, and corporate and government campuses. Founded in 1972, Optelecom-NKF is committed to providing its customers with expert technical advice and support. Investor inquiries should be directed to Mr. Rick Alpert at +1 301-948-7872. Press inquiries for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia should be directed to Kate Huber tel. +31 182 592 215 Press inquiries for North and Latin America should be directed to Betsy Lanning, tel. +1 301-444-2276 For more information please visit our website: http://www.optelecom-nkf.com/ DATASOURCE: Optelecom-NKF, Inc. CONTACT: Investors, Rick Alpert, +1-301-948-7872; or Press: Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, Kate Huber, +31-182-592-215, ; or North and Latin America, Betsy Lanning, +1-301-444-2276, , all of Optelecom-NKF, Inc. Web Site: http://www.optelecom-nkf.com/

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