Avista Corp.'s Affiliate Avista Communications and Lucent Technologies Announce Four-Year Strategic Agreement
PR Newswire ~ May 4, 2000 ~ 8:00 am EST
Pacific Northwest CLEC to Partner with Proven Technology Leader With
$25 Million Purchase
SPOKANE, Wash., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Avista Corp. (NYSE: AVA) subsidiary Avista Communications and Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) today announced a four- year strategic agreement under which Avista Communications will enhance and expand its network with the purchase of 5ESS(R) Switches, a highly reliable, packet-driven switching system. The contract is valued at $25 million.
(Photo: newscom.com )
Lucent's enhanced switching software, hardware and specialized services will enable Avista Communications to offer a broad array of voice and data service to current markets being deployed in Washington, Idaho and Montana, as well as serving new markets as the company expands.
"With this agreement, we will capitalize upon the strength of Lucent's leading-edge technology to deliver top-quality voice and data service to our customers," said Gregory Green, president and chief executive officer of Avista Communications. "Lucent is recognized for providing a strong foundation for today's public communications network, and we look forward to working with a company that will grow with us in meeting our customers' rapidly evolving communications needs."
Avista Communications will deploy the new Lucent 5ESS(R) Switches in its existing and announced new markets, enhancing current central office switching capabilities in its growing network. The 5ESS Switch, a key element of Lucent's 7R/E Packet Solutions, prepares the network for handling future, packet-based services.
"We selected Lucent's 5ESS(R) Switch because it's a flexible, software-based system that will allow us to offer multiple communications services, from dial- tone to the most advanced multi-media communications," Green said. "Reliability was a key factor in our selection of Lucent's technology."
The new switching technology is expected to allow Avista Communications to accommodate greater volumes of voice traffic as well as data service. Additionally, the new switches will facilitate the installation of new customer lines and help prepare the company for product offerings integrating voice, video and data over one network.
"The 5ESS Switch is the most widely deployed system in the world," said Tim Dyer, Lucent sales vice president for emerging services providers. "It offers both the flexibility and reliability Avista Communications will need as it grows to meet its diverse customers' needs."
Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and delivers the systems, software, silicon and services for next-generation communications networks for service providers and enterprises. Backed by the research and development of Bell Labs, Lucent focuses on high-growth areas such as optical and wireless networks; Internet infrastructure; communications software; communications semiconductors and optoelectronics; Web-based enterprise solutions that link private and public networks; and professional network design and consulting services. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit its website at lucent.com.
Avista Communications, a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), is a leading provider of facilities-based telecommunications solutions. Utilizing an advanced fiber-optic network and state-of-the-art switching technology, Avista Communications offers customers a choice in local dial tone, data transport, Internet access, and enhanced telecommunications solutions. Typical customers include businesses in under-served Tier 3 and 4 markets (populations under 500, 000) throughout the Western United States. For more information visit the Avista Communications website at avistacom.net.
Avista Corp. is an energy, information and technology company whose utility and subsidiary operations focus on delivering superior products and providing innovative solutions to business and residential customers throughout North America.
Avista Corp.'s affiliate companies include Avista Utilities, which operates the company's electric and natural gas generation, transmission and distribution business. Avista's non-regulated businesses include Avista Advantage, Avista Labs, Avista Communications, Avista Energy, Avista Energy Canada, Ltd., Avista Power, and Avista Ventures, the parent of Avista Development and Pentzer Corporation. Avista Corp.'s stock is traded under the ticker symbol "AVA." For more information about Avista Corp. and its affiliate businesses, visit the corporate website at www.avistacorp.com.
NOTE: Avista Corp. and the Avista Corp. logo are trademarks of Avista Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
/CONTACT: media, Nancy Goodspeed, 509-495-4451, or ngoodspeed@ avistacorp.com, or investors, Laurine Jue, 509-495-2510, or ljue@avistacorp.com both of Avista Corporation; or Ed Beltram of Lucent Technologies, 303-290-2453, or ebeltram@lucent.com/
07:45 EDT
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