Nortel Touts Carrier Ethernet

LAS VEGAS -- Nortel(i) (TSX: NT)(NYSE: NT) is continuing to build its customer base for Carrier Ethernet solutions that offer simplicity over complexity and ultimately drive down network costs. With over 40 customers around the world acquired within the last 12 months, a vendor ecosystem of more than 25 members and a growing product portfolio, Nortel is demonstrating how its innovative technologies have defined Carrier Ethernet as a viable, cost-effective metro infrastructure.

"Nortel strongly believes in the long-term value to service providers of our Carrier Ethernet solution," said Philippe Morin, president, Metro Ethernet Networks, Nortel. "Nemertes Research(1) indicates that the demand for bandwidth could outpace network capacity by 2010, so we're not surprised to find that operators large and small are turning to Nortel's Carrier Ethernet solutions to deliver performance, scale, and reliability advantages over other metro infrastructure alternatives out there, while maintaining cost-effectiveness. It's a strong solution intended to meet today's business demands and tomorrow's necessities."

Among Nortel's 40 customers are U.S. service providers Panhandle Telephone Cooperative, Golden West Telecom, Frontier and Dakota Carrier Network as well as KPN in the Netherlands, China Netcom, Australia's Silk Telecom and Promigas Telecomunicaciones in Colombia.

Panhandle Telephone Cooperative, Inc (PTCI)(ii) has always been on the leading edge in deploying innovative technologies across its area of services in Oklahoma and Texas. Whether deploying digital telephony in the 80's or fiber-based transport in the 90's, PTCI has grown to become a full-service provider offering telephone, Internet, cellular, and cable services to over 28,000 customers. Today, PTCI announced it will support its newest, residential, triple play offerings that include HD IPTV with a significant deployment of Nortel's Carrier Ethernet solutions(2).

"There's no doubt in our minds that choosing Nortel's PBB/PBT solution over the competitor's MPLS offering was the right decision to expand our network capacity to support our drive into new markets with new services", said Gary Burke, plant manager, PTCI. "It only took five weeks between the time we signed the purchase order and the time this solution was running in our network. As a result, we are quickly able to meet customer demand for added video services and have already seen the revenue from our expanded network capacity."

Nortel Networks Ltd.