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[September 23, 2003] Nortel Networks to Enhance Optical Ethernet Solutions to Help Drive Ethernet Services Growth Introduces Two New Products to Maximize Reliability, ScalabilityOTTAWA, Ontario – Nortel Networks* [NYSE/TSX: NT] has introduced next generation capabilities on its Ethernet over Fiber solution that will position service providers to offer Optical Ethernet switched solutions to far more end users and to drive additional revenue opportunities. These new capabilities will also position service providers to lower service deployment costs by 35-50 percent compared to traditional Frame Relay and ATM solutions, according to Nortel Networks studies. This means they will be able to offer voice over IP (Internet Protocol), videoconferencing, collaborative computing and other high-value services more efficiently using a high-performance Optical Ethernet infrastructure. Two new products will be added to the Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet portfolio and will be available in the first quarter of 2004 – Nortel Networks Metro Ethernet Services Unit 1800 and Metro Ethernet Services Module 8668 for Nortel Networks Passport* 8600 Routing Switch. This will give service providers a scalable solution capable of supporting hundreds of thousands of end customers. These new products will enable a ring-based, switched Ethernet solution with 50 milli-second resiliency, which is the generally accepted industry benchmark for carrier class services. This Ethernet ring solution will offer an efficient, scalable means to aggregate customer traffic with cost-effective Ethernet switches. Additionally, Metro Ethernet Services Module 8668 will work with stacked VLAN (virtual local area network) technology to ensure multi-vendor interoperability. “KPN has seen a dramatic increase in customer demand for the Ethernet VPN service we implemented with Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet technologies,” said Han Wijns, managing director, Transmission Services, KPN. “We anticipate that the new enhancements within Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet solutions will enable a further simplification of operations to control costs, and help us to drive increased revenues by enabling new services.” “Nortel Networks is a leader in developing solutions that enable carriers to deliver Optical Ethernet service,” said Mark Bieberich, senior analyst, Yankee Group. “As service providers continue to make progress in delivering Ethernet-based services, they are asking how vendor solutions can help them drive revenues and offer the security, scalability, and reliability levels they require. The solution that Nortel Networks is announcing today addresses these issues while providing the flexibility to fit into a variety of network scenarios.” The new products will be seamlessly integrated with Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet portfolio and fully manageable with Nortel Networks Preside* Network Management Solution for automated provisioning, troubleshooting support, and performance management. Additionally, these products will support a unique tool for service assurance called VPN Continuity, enabling providers to ensure service uptime and verify service level agreements. Nortel Networks management solution for Optical Ethernet switching solutions scales to match service growth and is capable of supporting tens of thousands of network elements while maintaining the same level of operational efficiency. Nortel Networks will also enhance Nortel Networks OPTera* Metro 1000 series of Ethernet Service Modules with the capability to fit into ring-based topologies, as well as features like per class-of-service rate enforcement, automatic node discovery, and dynamic service provisioning. These enhancements will strengthen the value proposition of OPTera Metro 1000 as a customer premise device capable of supporting multiple services while simplifying ongoing network management. These added capabilities will offer the ultimate in flexibility for native Ethernet access solutions, whether in a greenfield or legacy infrastructure. Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet portfolio provides the right functionality for the right place in the network. “Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet solutions provide the ideal transport infrastructure to support next generation multimedia applications as well as today’s existing LAN applications, delivering the performance levels required for traffic that demands near-real-time response like voice over IP, videoconferencing, collaborative computing, and more,” said Marco Pagani, president, Optical Ethernet and Storage Solutions, Nortel Networks. “With these enhancements, Nortel Networks will provide its customers an Ethernet VPN service capability that will accelerate the growth of Ethernet services.” Nortel Networks comprehensive Optical Ethernet portfolio enables delivery of Ethernet services across service provider and enterprise networks. Nortel Networks is the only vendor that provides a complete set of Ethernet services via Ethernet over fiber, Ethernet over SONET/SDH and Ethernet over WDM. Nortel Networks was the worldwide leader in the Ethernet DWDM and SONET MSPP segments of the Optical Ethernet market for 2002, according to IDC. Nortel Networks is an industry leader and innovator focused on transforming how the world communicates and exchanges information. The Company is supplying its service provider and enterprise customers with communications technology and infrastructure to enable value-added IP data, voice and multimedia services spanning Wireless Networks, Wireline Networks, Enterprise Networks, and Optical Networks. As a global company, Nortel Networks does business in more than 150 countries. More information about Nortel Networks can be found on the Web at www.nortelnetworks.com. 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 severity and duration of the industry adjustment and continued reductions in spending by our customers; the sufficiency of our restructuring activities, including the potential for higher actual costs to be incurred in connection with restructuring actions compared to the estimated costs of such actions; fluctuations in operating results and general industry, economic and market conditions and growth rates; the ability to recruit and retain qualified employees; fluctuations in cash flow, the level of outstanding debt and debt ratings; the ability to meet financial covenants contained in our credit agreements; the ability to integrate the operations and technologies of acquired businesses in an effective manner; the impact of rapid technological and market change; the impact on our gross margins and other impacts 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; the dependence on new product development and our ability to predict market demand for particular products; the uncertainties of the Internet; the impact of the credit risks of our customers and the impact of customer financing and commitments; the impact of a consolidation of our common shares; stock market volatility generally and as a result of acceleration of the settlement date or early settlement of our purchase contracts; the entrance into an increased number of supply and outsourcing contracts which contain delivery and installation provisions, which, if not met, could result in the payment of substantial penalties or liquidated damages; the ability to obtain timely, adequate and reasonably priced component parts from suppliers and internal manufacturing capacity; the outcome of our asset and liability review; the future success of our strategic alliances; risks related to our defined benefit plans; the impact of additional valuation allowances for all or a portion of our deferred tax assets required if market conditions further deteriorate or future results of operations are less than expected; an inability of our subsidiaries to provide funding to the respective parent companies; restrictions on our cash as cash collateral if satisfactory arrangements for alternative support for certain obligations are not in place; and the adverse resolution of litigation and intellectual property disputes. 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. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, 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. *Nortel Networks, the Nortel Networks logo, the Globemark, Passport, Preside and OPTera are trademarks of Nortel Networks. |