Nortel Deploys in Brazil

SÃO PAULO, Brazil -- Vesper, a Brazilian operator providing services in 17 states in the Southeastern and Northern regions of the country, has selected Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT - News; TSX:NT. - News) as the sole supplier of its CDMA2000 1xEV-DO (Data Optimized) network to improve capacity and enable delivery of high-speed and broadband wireless data services.In what is expected to be the first commercial deployment of this technology in Latin America, this agreement provides for Nortel Networks to deliver its comprehensive Nortel Networks Univity CDMA2000 1xEV-DO solution for expansion of Vesper's Sao Paulo network, enabling data transmission with peak rates up to 2.4 megabits per second.This deployment will also significantly increase Vesper's network capacity, as well as position Vesper to deliver advanced data services such as Web browsing, video and audio streaming. It will also support multimedia applications to provide faster access to corporate intranets, e-mail with large attachments, and mobile desktop capabilities for enterprise customers.The network is expected to be launched commercially in December of 2002."Once again Vesper is innovating by introducing 3G technology in the Brazilian market," said Luiz Kaufmann, president, Vesper. "Our customers will be provided with access to the Internet and the fastest wireless data communications available today in Brazil. And Nortel Networks - as Vesper's solution provider since the beginning of our operations - was chosen for this implementation because of its advanced technical solution and the synergies that characterize the project."Nortel Networks Corp.