*Brazil, $500 Million cdma contract*
Canbra Awards Nortel Networks an Estimated US$500
Million Contract To Build Brazil's First Alternative
Telecommunications Network
Unified Networks solution spanning data and telephony to reach Rio de Janeiro and 15 other states in the east coast and northern part of Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ - Canbra (Mirror S.A.) has
awarded Nortel Networks (NYSE/TSE: NT) a five-year contract worth an estimated
US$500 million, for a Unified Networks solution that will deliver advanced data and
telephony services in Rio de Janeiro and 15 other east coast and northern states in
Brazil.
Nortel Networks will design and build a turnkey network solution for Canbra,
including Nortel Networks Proximity II and cdmaOne fixed wireless access
equipment, digital switching systems, Optical Internet solutions, PBX and call
center equipment. Deployment will begin immediately in Rio de Janeiro, Minas
Gerais, and Bahia, followed by deployment in the other 13 states of Canbra's
region. Commercial service is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 1999.
``Nortel Networks was one of the network providers to offer the set of attributes we
were looking for - cutting edge fixed wireless and CDMA technology, extensive
experience in building integrated networks, a strong knowledge of the Latin
American market and the ability to deliver networks quickly,' said Francisco de
Assis, vice-president of engineering, Canbra.
``The privatization and deregulation of Brazil's telecommunications industry have
brought world-class services and features to Brazilian customers,' said Dan Hunt,
president, Nortel Networks CALA (Caribbean and Latin America). ``We're proud to
be providing Canbra the technology that will enable them to meet customers'
expectations. This underscores our leadership in Unified Networks solutions, and
our strength in the region.'
Nortel Networks' awards year-to-date in the Caribbean and Latin America region
include: one of the world's largest fixed wireless access networks for AXtel in
Mexico; an advanced pan-regional optical data network for IMPSAT; a Unified
Networks solution for FirstComm in Peru; a country-wide CDMA digital wireless
network for Haitel in Haiti; and TDMA digital wireless networks for Norte Brasil
Telecom and BellSouth Chile.
Canbra was awarded a ``mirror company' (alternative) license to compete with
Telemar, one of the companies formed as a result of the privatization of the former
Telebras system. Upon completion, the Canbra network will reach 51 municipalities
in an area - with a combined population of more 87 million people - and
approximately five million square kilometers (3.1 million square miles), roughly half
the size of continental United States. Nortel Networks' wireless solutions will cover
more than 84 percent of Brazil's territory.
Canbra was formed by Bell Canada International (34.4 percent), US-based
VeloCom Inc., formerly WLL International (34.4 percent), and QUALCOMM (16.2
percent), Argentina-based Grupo Liberman (12.5 percent), and Taquari
Participaoes (2.5 percent) from Brazil.
Nortel Networks delivers value to customers around the world through Unified
Networks solutions, spanning mission-critical telephony and IP-optimized
networks. Customers include public and private enterprises and institutions;
Internet service providers; local, long-distance, cellular and PCS communications
companies, cable television carriers, and utilities.
Nortel Networks' common shares are listed on the New York, Toronto, Montreal
and London stock exchanges. Nortel Networks had 1998 revenues of US$17.6
billion and has approximately 76,000 employees worldwide.
SOURCE Nortel Networks Corporation
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