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Nortel Networks has received the industry's first TL 9000 certification for end-to-end development and deployment of UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) infrastructure.

The TL 9000 standard for Quality Management System Requirements and Measurements was developed by the QuEST Forum, an industry group made up of telecommunications companies including service providers, infrastructure vendors, second- and third-tier suppliers, and liaison bodies. TL 9000 extends ISO 9000 standards and raises the bar to provide a more comprehensive quality and reliability system around the end-to-end deployment of network infrastructure and associated support services.

This is the first time a TL 9000 certification has been awarded covering a comprehensive UMTS system and service solution. The scope of this certification covers end-to-end definition, design, development, introduction and service of wireless UMTS core, access and NMS (Network Management System) products.

"Interoperability and compliance to a broader range of industry standards are critical issues in reducing network costs and driving proliferation of wireless data services," said Alain Biston, president and general manager, UMTS, Nortel Networks. "Nortel Networks is proud to be a leader in developing and adopting the global standards that will ensure the robust, carrier-grade capabilities that will take us as an industry into the next era of wireless."

Products covered under Nortel Networks TL 9000 certification include the Internet Base Transceiver Station radio access and Radio Network Controller (RNC) portfolios, UMTS circuit core, packet core, and NMS products. The certification also includes Nortel Networks network engineering, installation and technical support services.

"Our success in reaching this certification milestone was a compilation of effort from our teams across the globe," said Agnes Sleiman, UMTS system quality leader, Nortel Networks. "This truly reflects Nortel Networks core value system and demonstrates the combined maturity of our emerging UMTS product, processes and services."