(PR NEWSWIRE)
Nortel Networks Unveils Breakthrough Optical Internet Capabilities to Bridge
Optical and Packet Networks
New OPTera Packet Solution to handle massive bandwidth demands, overcome
Internet traffic congestion caused by 'Old World' routers
BRAMPTON, Ontario, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ - Nortel Networks (NYSE/TSE: NT)
today announced the OPTera Packet Solution --- a breakthrough in building the
high performance Internet that will unify optical and packet networks into one
powerful infrastructure capable of carrying all types of traffic. It will
provide lightning fast, highly reliable optical switching and routing
capabilities that replace 'Old World' routers responsible for 57 % of all
Internet failures today, and deliver massive bandwidth where and when it is
needed.
''Nortel Networks is leading the way to the high-performance Internet ---
an Internet at the speed of light, 99.999 % reliable, secure, and with the
capacity to deliver services that demand high performance, whether it's
e-commerce or hosted applications,'' said John Roth, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Nortel Networks.
''In order for Cable & Wireless Communications to be at the forefront of
building the new, better Internet, we need solutions that can effectively and
efficiently deliver the scalability, reliability, and economics that enable us
to deploy profitable new services,'' said Andrew MacLeod, Chief Technology
Officer, Cable & Wireless Communications. ''Offerings like Nortel Networks'
OPTera Packet Solution give us confidence that this vision can now be achieved
in the core of the Internet, and we eagerly look forward to implementing
them.''
''We chose Nortel Networks for our major network expansion announced
today, because they are on the leading edge of the Optical Internet and
deliver real world solutions,'' said Mike Guess, VP engineering, IXC
Communications. ''These latest developments in the OPTera portfolio will
ensure we stay ahead of the Internet demand curve.''
''The OPTera Packet Solution is the latest development in Nortel
Networks' highly successful Optical Internet strategy,'' said Clarence
Chandran, President, Carrier Packet Solutions, Nortel Networks. ''We are
leading the Internet revolution by doubling the bandwidth capacity of fiber
optics and halving the cost of networking every nine months. Demand for our
Optical Internet solutions is exploding as the market grows at 56 % annually
to over US$ 35 billion by 2001.''
Breakthrough OPTera Packet Solution
-----------------------------------
The OPTera Packet Solution will bring together five elements:
- The OPTera Packet Core, a new capability announced today, will be the
cornerstone of the OPTera Packet Solution. The OPTera Packet Core is
expected to be available for customer trials in the third quarter of
2000.
- The Versalar Switch Router 25000, a carrier class terabit switch
router which is currently in customer trials and is expected to be
generally available in the fourth quarter of 1999.
- The OPTera Connect DX, an optical cross connect which will be
available for customer trials in the second quarter of 2000.
- The Passport 15000 Multiservice Switch, an ATM-based multiservice
switch which is available today.
- Integrated Network Management, end-to-end network management software
available today.
The OPTera Packet Solution will integrate and evolve all of these
elements to deliver advanced optical switching and routing capabilities that
will handle speeds up to 19 Terabits per second of any kind of Internet
traffic (IP, ATM, SONET/SDH) and be scalable to hundreds of Terabits per
second. It will be a major part of Nortel Networks' market leading OPTera
Portfolio that also includes metropolitan and backbone optical networking
solutions.
The entire OPTera Portfolio is managed by a robust, yet simple to use
integrated network management system that manages voice and Internet traffic
flows across both wireless and wireline networks with centralized billing and
accounting records. Proven in over 400 service provider networks worldwide, it
lowers total cost of ownership through better network management across
multi-vendor networks, speeds the deployment of new services, and provides
service quality assurance.
''The next generation network will require dramatic increases in
capacity, manageability and reliability,'' said Mat Steinberg, a Director at
Ryan Hankin Kent in California. ''Nortel Networks' introduction of a new suite
of high capacity products and software capability is a major step towards
bringing the reliability of the public telephone network to the Internet.
Nortel Networks optical transport systems now carry over 75 percent of
backbone Internet traffic in North America.''
About Nortel Networks
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 70,000 employees worldwide.
Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and
is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events
predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or
events. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current
expectations include, among other things: the impact of price and product
competition; the dependence on new product development; the impact of rapid
technological and market change; the ability of Nortel Networks to integrate
the operations and technologies of acquired businesses in an effective manner;
general industry and market conditions and growth rates; international growth
and global economic conditions, particularly in emerging markets and including
interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; unanticipated impact of
Year 2000 issues; and the impact of consolidations in the telecommunications
industry. For additional information with respect to certain of these and
other factors, see the reports filed by Nortel Networks with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission. Nortel Networks disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE Nortel Networks Corporation
-0- 9/28/1999
/CONTACT: Business Media: Jeff Ferry, Nortel Networks,
(703) 712-8339, jferry@nortelnetworks.com; Trade Media: Ann Fuller, Nortel
Networks, (613) 768-4512, afuller@nortelnetworks.com; Investor Relations:
Angela McMonagle, Nortel Networks, (905) 863-6044,
mcmona@nortelnetworks.com; Or visit Nortel Networks' website at
www.nortelnetworks.com/
/Nortel Networks' press releases are also available through CNO-Call by
fax at 800-758-5804, ext. 122158 or at www.prnewswire.com/
/Web-site: nortelnetworks.com
(NT. NT)
CO: Nortel Networks Corporation
ST: Ontario
IN: TLS
SU: PDT
-30-
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