AMSTERDAM -- Orange NL, the Orange SA subsidiary in The Netherlands, is deploying a national optical network in The Netherlands -- along with high-speed connections to its existing network in Belgium -- using optical solutions from Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT)(TSX:NT). This new network will serve as the high-speed backbone for Orange NL's GSM/GPRS wireless network, which already includes Nortel Networks radio base stations and core network infrastructure equipment.

"Our initial aim was to drive reduced operational costs by replacing a large portion of our current leased line network with a new, purpose-built optical network," said Bertrand Grezes-Besset, chief technology officer, Orange NL. "Through working with Nortel Networks, we are now confident that we will achieve that aim, and will be able to benefit from the further increased quality of our network, which will benefit our customers most. In addition, our transmission network will be prepared for delivery of future services such as UMTS. In the end it may give us new revenue fields as well."

"Nortel Networks relationship with Orange NL illustrates the benefits of our cross-portfolio solutions," said Steve Pusey, president, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), Nortel Networks. "Orange NL will be able to target the major cost points of its national wireless network with our optical networking solutions."

Using Nortel Networks Optical Networks portfolio, Orange NL will be positioned to drive lower operating costs through broadband service enablement. This will help Orange NL to drive greater return on investment by offering new services to wireless customers, as well as to non-wireless customers through other France Telecom Group companies like Wanadoo, Equant and FTLD.

The Orange NL optical backbone network solution will make use of the full breadth of Nortel Networks Optical Networks portfolio. The metro networks will use Nortel Networks OPTera Metro 4000 and OPTera Metro 5000 Multiservice Platforms to provide ESCON, Fibre Channel (FC) and Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) interfaces over SDH and WDM. These broadband services will be carried through the core -- using Nortel Networks OPTera Connect DX Optical Switch and Nortel Networks OPTera Long Haul 1600 Optical Line System -- to a number of major cities in the Netherlands and Belgium. The entire multiservice broadband network will take advantage of Nortel Networks Preside end-to-end optical network management solution.

Nortel Networks is providing optical network equipment and services to Orange NL under an agreement signed in October 2002. Under this agreement, Nortel Networks is managing the network deployment for Orange NL, including standard implementation services, installation of third-party equipment, overall project coordination, fibre acceptance, and migration of existing leased lines.

Orange SA

Nortel Networks Corp.