Nortel (Northern Telecom) Reinforces Support for IMT-2000 Initiative With
Plans for 3G Digital Wireless Trials in Late 1998
DALLAS, June 25 /PRNewswire/ - Nortel (Northern Telecom) (NYSE: NT/TSE: NTL) today strongly reinforced its support for
the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) initiative to create a single, global standard for digital wireless communications,
announcing plans to deploy a series of experimental third generation (3G) wireless networks beginning in the fourth quarter of this
year.
Known as IMT-2000, this important ITU effort has as its goal the realization of a next generation standard which envisions
seamless roaming, ubiquitous availability, affordability and ease-of-use for wireless subscribers around the world.
As one of the top three global providers of networks using today's major second generation digital wireless standards, Nortel's
experimental 3G networks will complement the IMT-2000 initiative by exploring all aspects of GSM, cdmaOne (IS-95 CDMA)
and IS-136 TDMA evolution.
Emphasis will be placed on graceful transition to standards convergence for existing operators and subscribers.
''We strongly support the IMT-2000 goal of standards convergence,'' said Matt Desch, president, Wireless Networks, Nortel.
''Our trial plans heavily cross leverage various technology-driven 3G proposals with an eye toward convergence to one
standard.''
''With one standard,'' Desch said, ''we can offer operators - and they, in turn, can offer their customers - the highest possible
service value at reasonable cost.''
Nortel will also explore innovations in Wideband CDMA radio design, IP networking and multimedia in realizing the IMT-2000
goal of a single standard.
''As we grow to depend on the World Wide Web as a critical medium for services, e-commerce and information, the need for
true, 'anytime, anywhere' Internet access - or webtone as Nortel calls it - dictates complementary wireless and wireline solutions,''
Desch said. ''Our 3G initiatives will bring webtone and rugged reliable IP networks to wireless.''
Pascal Debon, president, GSM Wireless Networks, Nortel, plans to start deployment of three experimental 3G networks before
the end of the year. This includes one in Canada, one in a Western European capital, and another to be determined.
''These will be Wideband CDMA networks in support of the transition from GSM to IMT-2000 for our key customers,'' Debon
said.
Other Nortel experimental networks will address the same issues from the perspectives of operators using the other two major
digital wireless technologies.
''This effort complements other 3G initiatives already underway with a number of our lead cdmaOne customers,'' said Richard
Lowe, vice-president and general manager, CDMA Wireless Networks, Nortel. ''Our 3G-ready cdmaOne platform will enable
our customers to migrate smoothly to 3G with maximum leverage from their existing cdmaOne investments.''
''Our 3G transition plan for IS-136 TDMA includes joint development with our GSM product for a common packet
infrastructure (General Packet Radio Services or GPRS) leading toward an EDGE trial in early 1999,'' said John Vice,
vice-president and general manager, TDMA Wireless Networks, Nortel.
''EDGE will allow our customers to deliver data speeds up to 384 kilobits per second,'' Vice said. ''And we plan to build on this
to provide a complete 3G evolution strategy for our IS-136 TDMA operators by the year 2000.''
SOURCE: Northern Telecom Limited
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