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Telefnica Mviles Espaa (TME) has selected Nortel as the main supplier for expansion of the core multiservice network that will support its third generation (3G) service offering under a multi-year contract.

This expanded network will enable TME to efficiently support increased voice and data traffic on its 3G Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, while reducing operational expenses through consolidation of disparate networks.

Voice calls, Internet browsing and data applications on TME customers' 3G handsets will be consolidated across an ATM-based (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network using Nortel's Multiservice Switch portfolio. As part of the agreement, Nortel is also providing professional services for TME, including installation, commissioning, technical support, repair and return, and full, first line maintenance services.

"Nortel's multiservice solutions provide the network reliability and scalability required to ensure the high availability of 3G services," said Casimir Alonso, president, Nortel Iberia. "This new contract award for Telefnica Mviles network expansion demonstrates our continued market momentum in wireless packet networking solutions."

Nortel has supplied multiservice switching solutions for the ATM core network of Telefnica Mviles in Spain since 2000. Consisting of Multiservice Switch (MSS) 15000 and MSS 7400 series platforms, the core network already includes more than 200 Nortel MSS nodes. With this new network expansion, Nortel will provide MSS equipment at the metro edge of the network, as well as act as sole supplier for the multiservice core.

Nortel was the global market share leader in multiservice switching for 15 consecutive quarters as of year-end 2004, according to Synergy Research Group. With more than 45,000 systems shipped to over 1,500 customer networks, Nortel's Multiservice Switching family has proven field experience in delivering carrier-grade reliability and service flexibility for mission critical enterprise and service provider networks worldwide. Nortel's MSS portfolio is deployed with more than 25 major wireless operators, and is delivering proven reliability for wireless packet networking solutions across GSM/GPRS/UMTS, TDMA and CDMA/CDMA2000* technologies.