MELBOURNE, Australia -- Powercor Australia, Victoria's largest electricity distributor,has signed a supply agreement for optical communications equipment andsupport services from Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT)(TSE:NT.) for a new,carrier-grade telecommunications network that is expected to deliverhigh-quality data services to customers in the region's major urbanand rural growth centres. Powercor Australia plans to deploy Nortel Networks OPTera Metro4000 Multiservice Platform, a fully-managed optical transport systemthat addresses a broad range of multi-rate application needs inSDH-based access, metropolitan and regional backbone networks. "Powercor Australia is pleased to be working with Nortel Networksto develop and implement our new telecommunications network, whichwill position us at the vanguard of telecommunications," said TimGurrie, general manager, strategic development, Powercor Australia.Nortel Networks Corp.