Mike, you make a good point about separating the hype from reality. If you read the enclosed article from Network World, you find that Lucent and Verizon are claiming that Verizon will be the first 3G wireless network deployed in the US. Last week, Sprint made the same claim. Lucent and Verizon claim their network will operate at 1.44K bit/sec but the Nortel press release issued this morning says they have already deployed a wireless network in San Diego and Las Vegas which operates at 1.44K bit/sec.
Lucent signs $5 billion
3G deal with Verizon
By Joris Evers
IDG News Service, 03/19/01
Lucent Monday announced a 3-year, $5 billion deal
with Verizon Wireless to supply third-generation
mobile telephony equipment.
Verizon, which is the largest mobile operator in the
U.S., will start deploying the technology that allows
high-speed wireless data transmission later this year,
the companies said in a joint statement.
Verizon has agreed to buy multiple products and
services from Lucent. The operator said it would
upgrade its existing voice network to the
CDMA2000 - Code Division Multiple Access -
standard. The companies expect the 3G introduction
to be the first commercial launch in the U.S.
"We are upgrading from cdmaOne to CDMA2000,
that means swapping circuit cards and updating
software. The first phase, getting network speed up
to 144K bit/sec will be done this year. The second
step in 2002 will get us up to 2M bit/sec," said
Andrea Linskey, spokeswoman for Verizon, adding
that Lucent currently supplies about 65% of Verizon's
network with Nortel Networks and Motorola being
the other suppliers.
"We are not building a network for Verizon, but
helping them expand and enhance the existing
network," Lucent spokeswoman Mary Ward said. "It
does position us to become the largest supplier to
Verizon."
For embattled Lucent the deal - according to Ward
the largest wireless deal in the company's history -
has come at a critical time. The telecom equipment
vendor is carrying out a broad restructuring plan and
managed to settle short-term liquidity problems late
February with a $6.5 billion credit line.
"This is a vote of confidence for Lucent. It
demonstrates that customers are still looking to
Lucent for the technology they need as they bring out
new services," Ward said.
Verizon said it has 27.5 million customers. The
company was formed by the combination of the U.S.
wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic, GTE and
Vodafone Group PLC.
Verizon Wireless, in Dallas, is at
verizonwireless.com. Lucent, in
Murray Hill, N.J., is at www.lucent.com/.
The IDG News Service is a Network World
affiliate. |
