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February 3, 2005
Nortel Secures Contract with iPCS, Inc to Replace Wireless Network
New Network to Provide Advanced Services; Represents New ‘Footprint’ for Nortel
DALLAS – Nortel * [NYSE/TSX: NT] has been selected by iPCS Inc (iPCS) to replace wireless infrastructure technology and provide professional services designed to increase network efficiencies and support delivery of advanced, high-speed data services – like Web browsing, streaming audio and video, and multimedia messaging – to wireless subscribers in iPCS’ Michigan licensed territories.
iPCS, Inc is the PCS affiliate of Sprint that owns and operates the Sprint PCS network in 40 markets in four Midwestern states and serves over 240,500 wireless subscribers. Under a three-year, estimated US$15.2 million agreement, Nortel will replace existing iPCS CDMA2000* 1X networks in the Grand Rapids, Midland and Saginaw, Mich. metropolitan areas, as well as in Traverse City, Holland, Grand Haven and Muskegon, Mich. The existing CDMA2000 1X equipment is expected to be replaced by the third quarter of 2005. Nortel is expected to deploy EV-DO infrastructure for iPCS in select Michigan markets over the next several years. This iPCS network will continue to provide a full suite of Sprint PCS-branded voice and wireless Web services. It will represent a new footprint for Nortel, encompassing more than 2.6 million potential subscribers. Nortel has been supplying wireless infrastructure to iPCS since 1999. Within the new footprint, Nortel will continue to provide mobile switching equipment, base stations and software for service provisioning, and network operations and management. Nortel will also continue to provide wireless professional services like project management, radio frequency (RF) engineering, and network engineering. “Nortel wireless infrastructure technology provides quality, capacity, coverage and performance, enabling operators like iPCS to successfully penetrate urban and mixed markets,” said Richard Lowe, president, CDMA Wireless Networks, Nortel. “We look forward to helping iPCS increase network capacity and efficiencies while positioning them to deliver compelling services and applications that will enhance the subscriber experience.” "Our strategy was to evaluate our current and future customer’s needs in offering compelling wireless voice and data services,” said Craig Kinley, vice president, Engineering and Network Operations, iPCS. “Engaging in the relationship with Nortel brings forth the desired synergies to venture into the next stages of wireless with true broadband speeds and quality that our customers demand.” “Nortel’s CDMA2000 1X and EV-DO solutions will deliver top-quality, anywhere, anytime wireless services to our customers while helping us reduce operating costs and expand the reach and increase the capacity of our network,” Kinley said. The deployment will include Nortel CDMA 1X and EV-DO radios, core switching and professional services. In addition, iPCS will deploy Nortel’s industry-leading Compact Metro Cell BTS and CDMA Enhanced Base Station Controller (EBSC). The Compact Metro Cell BTS is a highly flexible, scalable and power-efficient third generation (3G) base station. Focused on reducing operational expenses and increasing profitability, Compact Metro Cell offers ‘pay as you grow’ flexibility and modular design, ensuring maximum investment protection for wireless operators. The EBSC is an ATM packet-based system that connects CDMA base stations to the mobile switching center (MSC). The EBSC provides mobility functions like soft handoff between cells and power control of individual traffic channel links. The all-digital iPCS wireless network is built to be compatible with the Sprint PCS nationwide network. Nortel has designed, installed and launched more than 300 wireless networks in over 50 countries. Nortel was the industry’s first supplier with wireless networks operating in all advanced radio technologies (GSM/GPRS/EDGE, CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO, UMTS and WLAN), and is the only end-to-end provider of all next generation wireless solutions. About Nortel Nortel is a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities that enhance the human experience, ignite and power global commerce, and secure and protect the world’s most critical information. Serving both service provider and enterprise customers, Nortel delivers innovative technology solutions encompassing end-to-end broadband, Voice over IP, multimedia services and applications, and wireless broadband designed to help people solve the world’s greatest challenges. Nortel does business in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at www.nortel.com. For the latest Nortel news, visit www.nortel.com/news. 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 outcome of regulatory and criminal investigations and civil litigation actions related to Nortel’s restatements and the impact any resulting legal judgments, settlements, penalties and expenses could have on Nortel’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity; the findings of Nortel’s independent review and implementation of recommended remedial measures; the outcome of the independent review with respect to revenues for specific identified transactions, which review will have a particular emphasis on the underlying conduct that led to the initial recognition of these revenues; the restatement or revisions of Nortel’s previously announced or filed financial results and resulting negative publicity; the existence of material weaknesses in Nortel’s internal controls over financial reporting; the impact of Nortel’s and NNL’s failure to timely file their financial statements and related periodic reports, including breach of its support facility and public debt obligations and Nortel’s inability to access its shelf registration statement filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); ongoing SEC reviews, which may result in changes to our public filings; the potential delisting or suspension of Nortel’s and NNL’s publicly traded securities; the impact of management changes, including the termination for cause of Nortel’s former CEO, CFO and Controller in August 2004; the sufficiency of Nortel’s restructuring activities, including the work plan announced on August 19, 2004 as updated on September 30, 2004, including the potential for higher actual costs to be incurred in connection with restructuring actions compared to the estimated costs of such actions; cautious or reduced spending by Nortel’s customers; fluctuations in Nortel’s operating results and general industry, economic and market conditions and growth rates; fluctuations in Nortel’s cash flow, level of outstanding debt and current debt ratings; Nortel’s ability to recruit and retain qualified employees; the use of cash collateral to support Nortel’s normal course business activities; the dependence on Nortel’s subsidiaries for funding; the impact of Nortel’s defined benefit plans and deferred tax assets on results of operations and Nortel’s cash flow; the adverse resolution of class actions, litigation in the ordinary course of business, intellectual property disputes and similar matters; Nortel’s dependence on new product development and its ability to predict market demand for particular products; Nortel’s ability to integrate the operations and technologies of acquired businesses in an effective manner; the impact of rapid technological and market change; the impact of price and product competition; barriers to international growth and global economic conditions, particularly in emerging markets and including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of rationalization in the telecommunications industry; changes in regulation of the Internet; the impact of the credit risks of Nortel’s customers and the impact of customer financing and commitments; stock market volatility generally and as a result of acceleration of the settlement date or early settlement, which is currently not available, of Nortel’s forward purchase contracts; the impact of Nortel’s supply and outsourcing contracts that contain delivery and installation provisions, which, if not met, could result in the payment of substantial penalties or liquidated damages; and the future success of Nortel’s strategic alliances. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Nortel with the SEC. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Nortel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. *Nortel, the Nortel logo and the Globemark are trademarks of Nortel Networks. CDMA2000 is a trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). Contact for Press and Analysts:Jamie Moody
Nortel
(972) 684-7167
moodyjam@nortel.com
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