Korea Picks Nortel for SIP Testing

SEOUL -- The Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA), Korea's major IT standards-setting body, has selected Multimedia Communication Server 5200 from Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT)(TSX:NT) as its 'reference equipment' for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) interoperability testing and for certification of multi-access terminal equipment from all suppliers prior to sale into the country's carrier and service provider market.

Mercury Corporation, a Nortel Networks 'channel partner', will supply TTA with a Nortel Networks Multimedia Communications Server 5200.

"The ability of the SIP signaling protocol to ensure a consistent user experience regardless of access technology or device is going to make it a highly significant factor in the deployment of next generation IP (Internet Protocol) services," said Woong Jang, manager of the Access Network testing team of TTA. "We selected Nortel Networks Multimedia Communication Server 5200 as our SIP benchmark because of the company's global leadership in the development of open, industry standards that promote revenue-generating services and stimulate competitive telecommunications environments."

"Nortel Networks is committed to helping service providers drive new revenue opportunities by facilitating multi-vendor interoperability and accelerating the widespread deployment of new, value-added multimedia services based on SIP," said Soo-Jin Chung, managing director, Korea, Nortel Networks. "We are extremely proud that our technology has been chosen by TTA to set the Korean industry reference for SIP-enabled access devices - from PCs, integrated access devices and residential gateways to Internet telephones and wireless handsets."

Nortel Networks Multimedia Communication Server 5200 (formerly known as the Interactive Multimedia Server or IMS) is a carrier-grade, SIP-based media and applications server. Leveraging an open, standards-based architecture and commercially available hardware and software, it gives service providers the ability to offer advanced multimedia and collaboration applications to businesses and consumers. It is a key component of Nortel Networks Multimedia Communications portfolio, which also includes Multimedia Communication Server 5100.

Included in the TTA solution is Nortel Networks SIP PRI (Primary Rate Interface) Gateway, which provides a cost-effective signaling and media gateway between a SIP-enabled voice over IP network and a system using the ISDN PRI - typically a PBX or public network switch.

In the first and second quarters of 2003, Nortel Networks ranked #1 in the global markets for voice over IP and voice over ATM ports shipped and in global softswitch revenue, according to Synergy Research Group. Nortel Networks has a proven portfolio of equipment for packet voice and multimedia services. It enables delivery of solutions across all four carrier voice over packet market applications - cable, local, long distance, and wireless.

TTA contributes to the advancement of technology and Korea's IT and telecommunications industry by establishing and providing technical standards that reflect the latest domestic and international technological advances necessary to the planning, design and operation of global end-to-end telecommunications and related information services. Additional information on TTA is available at www.tta.or.kr.

Nortel Networks Corp.