LONDON -- Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU - News) and Juniper Networks (Nasdaq: JNPR - News) today announced that the two companies have been selected by BT as a preferred supplier to provide technology from the two companies to sit at the heart of BT's revolutionary 21st Century IP network.

BT has announced that it expects to conclude contractual agreements with named preferred suppliers over the summer.

BT's announcement means that Lucent Technologies and Juniper Networks are among the companies set to supply and deploy core routing platforms. Lucent Technologies will also provide network integration, deployment and maintenance support for one of the world's largest infrastructure upgrades, as BT moves towards a multi-service, IP-based network for integrated voice, data and video services.

Lucent Technologies and Juniper Networks together will help BT deliver a more efficient network that will enable BT to offer customers diverse, new- wave feature-rich services -- such as Ethernet, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), carrier's carrier VPN and IP VPN -- over MPLS.

"Lucent Technologies is delighted to be part of this exciting 21st Century Network project. This leading effort will form a key element in ensuring the health and well being of the United Kingdom's future economy. It builds on an already successful and long-standing relationship between Lucent and BT spanning several years," said Chris Halbard, VP of sales and business development for Lucent Technologies, Europe.

"Lucent and Juniper Networks will continue to combine their expertise and knowledge, resulting in best in class solutions that enable carriers around the world to create innovative and revenue-generating services. We are extremely proud to be involved in BT's 21st Century Networks project, which recognises Lucent's leadership in MPLS networking and our strong partnership with Juniper Networks," said Halbard.

Lucent Technologies already employs more than 1,000 experts in its U.K. operations in Swindon, Bracknell and London. In addition, Lucent Worldwide Services, together with Lucent's Bell Labs, are set to provide BT with expertise for network planning, integration, deployment and support. Lucent Technologies has also invested in a multi-million pound technical inter- operability laboratory in Swindon, Wiltshire, which is equipped with some of the fastest and most sophisticated IP routing technology available in Europe. This fully demonstrates Lucent's commitment to deliver world-class technology to BT.

"We look forward to playing a role in BT's 21st Century Network project, and helping to ensure that U.K. industry is provided with the communications infrastructure it needs to keep this country at the forefront in Europe," said Halbard.

"BT's 21 Century Network demands reliable, fast traffic processing and delivery, regardless of service or application. BT's decision to rely upon our technology underscores Juniper Networks' ability to create secure and assured networking solutions for the world's most demanding, advanced networks, " said Eddie Minshull, vice-president of sales in EMEA for Juniper Networks.

Lucent Technologies Inc.

Juniper Networks Inc.