www.nortelnetworks.com

Nortel has become the first wireless networks supplier to successfully complete a TL 9000 consolidation registration across an end-to-end portfolio of hardware, software and services for HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and GSM (Global System Mobile) wireless infrastructure solutions.

"Quality leadership is an important differentiator for Nortel, allowing our customers to be confident in all our wireless solutions," said Alain Biston, vice president, GSM and UMTS portfolio, Nortel. "Process and quality maturity is vital for Nortel as we enter HSDPA solutions into trials and demonstrations, scheduled for market deployment in the first half of 2006."

"For Nortel, completing the industry's most comprehensive consolidated certification has resulted in streamlined and simplified processes, shorter timelines, and harmonized measurements," said Agnes Sleiman, GSM and UMTS quality and business processes leader, Nortel. "It is also expected to generate improvements in the customer experience with Nortel development, fulfillment and deployment processes, and to further increase the quality of Nortel products, solutions and services".

The TL 9000 standard for Quality Management System Requirements and Measurements was developed by the QuEST Forum, a leading industry group comprised of telecommunications companies including service providers, infrastructure vendors, second-tier suppliers, and liaison bodies. It was designed to raise the bar on ISO 9000 standards by providing a more comprehensive quality, reliability and measurement system around the end-to-end deployment of network infrastructure and associated support services.

The scope of this certification covers portfolio marketing, product management, design and development, build, delivery, introduction and support of wireless networks using UMTS/HSDPA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE telecommunications network equipment.

Specific products covered under this consolidated TL 9000 certification include the following GSM and UMTS access, circuit core, packet core, and network management systems product categories:

MSC: Mobile Switching Center
HLR: Home Location Register
SGSN: Service GPRS Support Node
GGSN: Gateway GPRS Support Node
PCU-SN: Packet Control Unit Support Node
MG: Media gateway
RNC: Radio Network Controller
BSC: Base Station Controller
TCU: Transceiver Coding Unit
iBTS: Internet Base Station
BTS: Base Transceiver Stations
OAM: Operation Administration and Maintenance
OMC-R: Operations and Maintenance Center ? Radio
MLC: Mobile Location Center

The certification also includes network engineering, installation, and technical support services.

Nortel has designed, installed and launched more than 300 wireless networks in over 70 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.