Nortel Expands Taipei Mesh

TAIPEI -- Nortel (NYSE:NT)(TSX:NT) has been selected to deploy its Wireless Mesh Networks solution for Phase II of Taipei's Mobile City (M-City) project connecting all Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) system stations and downtown commercial areas to the Internet through wireless access.

Phase II of the "Wireless Taipei, Taipei Unwired" M-City project is expected to be completed by the end of August 2005 and follows Nortel's successful deployment of a Wireless Mesh Network in 2004 supporting Phase I of the project. By the end of 2005, the M-City project will provide anywhere, anytime mobile communications throughout the commercial area of Taipei. The network will be operated by Qware Systems.

When complete, Taipei City's M-City project expects to have over 10,000 access points installed across 90 percent of its 272 square kilometers. Nortel's Wireless Mesh Network solution doesn't require extensive cabling to be laid. The wireless access points have built-in intelligence for managing the network, keeping information flowing if any one point is overloaded or temporarily out of service. In addition to the Wireless Mesh Network, Nortel's Optical Ethernet and IDC firewall solutions will be added.

The biggest engineering challenge for connecting such a large number of access points throughout Taipei City is identifying where each point needs to be placed, then ensuring each location allows transmission of a clear signal without interference. Pinpointing ideal locations for the more than 10,000 access points has been simplified by a new software tool called MeshPlanner. MeshPlanner is designed to allow network designers to provide superior service coverage and secure network access for seamless mobility throughout a city or campus while reducing planning and implementation costs.

"We are glad to cooperate with Nortel once again on the way to building Taipei as a world-class wireless city," said C.S. Lin, chairman of Qware and chief executive officer of the President Group. "Nortel has extensive experience in deploying large-scale wireless networks worldwide and has a strong technical force, support crew and project management expertise in Taiwan. That's why we chose to continue our collaboration with Nortel."

"Nortel is gratified to have been selected again to help the Taipei City Government meet its wireless broadband M-City project objectives," said Jackson Wu, managing director, Nortel Networks Taiwan. "Through the deployment in Phase II, Nortel will also be enhancing the security of the network to assist in ensuring excellent wireless access services to Taipei's citizens."

"It has been a great experience to collaborate with Nortel in Phrase I to complete the wireless deployment of 28 MRT stations and five underground shopping plazas," said S.L. Yang, general manager, Qware Systems. "The deployment for MRT outdoor areas started in mid-May and we expect the deployment of wireless networks throughout all MRT stations will be completed by the end of July. In addition to 23 major street arteries, Taipei citizens will also be able to enjoy the convenience of wireless access throughout the core downtown commercial business district in locations such as Starbucks coffee shops and 7-Eleven convenience stores."

Nortel Networks Ltd.