Nortel Networks Installs World's First Commercial 3GPP UMTS Equipment for Airtel
MADRID, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jan. 23, 2001--Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT - news; TSE:NT. - news) has
installed for Airtel Movil SA in Spain the world's first commercial radio equipment based on the international Third
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard, further
demonstrating Nortel Networks leadership position in building the high-performance Wireless Internet.
Nortel Networks is the first company to deliver commercial 3G equipment for a public nationwide UMTS network. This
time-to-market advantage is positioning Spain to be the first major country in Europe to offer UMTS-based national
Wireless Internet services. Airtel has already deployed UMTS radio base station equipment in Madrid, Barcelona,
Valencia and Seville, and plans to launch commercial 3G services in August 2001 in 23 cities, expecting to reach at least
25 percent of Spain's population.
``Our customers are asking us to help position them for a profitable future,'' said Frank Plastina, president, Wireless
Internet, Nortel Networks. ``We are a leader in the global race to win 3G contracts, and are proving our ability to deliver
time to market advantage, giving operators the chance to realize early business advantages.''
Nortel Networks was selected by Airtel last September as primary supplier to provide the initial phase of its UMTS
network in an agreement estimated to be worth US$100 million over 12 months.
Nortel Networks has announced UMTS awards estimated to be worth more than US$2.1 billion, including BT Cellnet
and One 2 One in the United Kingdom, T-Mobile in Germany, max.mobile in Austria, Airtel and Xfera in Spain, and
AT&T Wireless in the United States.
The first phase of Airtel's UMTS network features a fully integrated, end-to-end Wireless Internet solution, including
Nortel Networks e-mobility Internet Base Transceiver Stations (BTS).
Nortel Networks solutions for building the high-performance Wireless Internet are driven by its 'Wings of Light' strategy,
which combines optical, wireless and IP (Internet Protocol) solutions to help operators provide highly-reliable,
high-speed access to broadband Internet services virtually 'anytime, anywhere.'
The 3GPP standard is intended to ensure that future regional standards will be open, consistent and compatible, allowing
for unrestricted roaming and portability. |
