Nortel and Telefónica O2 Czech Republic Demonstrate Broadband Wireles Spectrum Potential

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, December 21 /PRNewswire/ --

- Europe's First CDMA2000 1x EV-DO Rev A Call at 450 MHz Radio Spectrum

Nortel(x) (NYSE/TSX: NT) and Telefónica O2 Czech Republic, the largest provider of wireless voice and data services in the Czech Republic, have teamed to show how operators can use broadband wireless spectrum more efficiently.

Today, the two companies successfully demonstrated Europe's first CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev A call in the Telefónica O2 Czech Republic network at 450 MHz radio spectrum. This broadband capability is expected to enable Telefónica O2 Czech Republic to deliver more IP wireless services such as mobile music and interactive 3D gaming, VoIP, and high-speed file transfers; and support real-time interactive access to services such as push-to-talk, mobile television and video telephony.

"We are glad that the 1xEV-DO Rev A deployment pilot has been successfully accomplished," said Pavel Kolar, Chief Network Infrastructure Officer, Telefónica O2 Czech Republic. "We have experienced significant improvement on the throughput and latency of Rev A data transfer. It clearly demonstrates that the latest CDMA2000 technology evolution, in combination with excellent radio propagation in the 450 MHz band, delivers improved customer benefits."

"Nortel's eleven-year experience with CDMA is helping us develop leading-edge solutions which benefit wireless operators by increasing revenue potential and enhancing the subscriber experience," said Wim Te Niet, president Central Region EMEA, Nortel. "With Telefónica O2 Czech Republic we're showing how Nortel's unique blend of broadband access products, IP core experience, network services and ability to deliver simple network upgrades helps to get the best from the wireless spectrum."

The call was enabled by a simple upgrade from 1xEV-DO Rev 0 to Rev A technology. Using the same 1.25 MHz channel, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev A provides both forward and reverse links with more capacity and higher data rates, with up to 3.1 Mbps in the forward link and 1.8 Mbps in the reverse link. These faster data rates combined with Quality of Service (QoS) and low latency, enables the provision of 3.5G services such as wireless gaming, streaming audio and video, and high performance push-to-talk capabilities. In addition to the Nortel upgrade, the demonstration was achieved using an ADU-500A CDMA EV-DO Rev A wireless modem from AnyDATA.

Nortel CDMA 450 equipment creates networking efficiencies that help drive reduced capital and operating costs. The 1xEV-DO Rev A implementation only required one hardware addition - the Rev A channel card - on the Telefónica O2 Czech Republic network to enable the new service and maximize the operator's existing investment in 450 MHz spectrum and core network equipment.

Nortel has provided EV-DO equipment to 21 of the 37 commercial networks with leading operators worldwide including Verizon Wireless and Sprint in the United States, Bell Mobility and Telus in Canada. Nortel was the first to commercially offer EV-DO in South America with Embratel, Brazil; in Central America with Telefónica Guatemala; and is now the first to deliver EV-DO at 450 MHz in Eastern Europe with Telefónica O2 Czech Republic.

About Telefónica O2 Czech Republic

Telefónica O2 Czech Republic, a.s., is the first integrated operator in the Czech Republic formed on 1 July 2006 by the merger of the leading fixed line operator, CESKÝ TELECOM, a.s., and the strongest mobile operator, Eurotel Praha, spol. s r.o., into a single telecommunications organization. The organization now operates nearly eight million lines, both fixed and mobile, making it one of the world's leading providers of fully converged services. Telefónica O2 Czech Republic offers the most comprehensive portfolio of voice and data services in this country. Special attention is paid to exploiting growth potential, in particular the company's data and Internet business. Telefónica O2 Czech Republic operates the largest fixed and mobile network including a unique 3rd generation network, CDMA (for data) and UMTS, enabling the transport of voice, data and video.

Furthermore, Telefónica O2 Czech Republic offers the largest network of WiFi hotspots in the country. Telefónica O2 Czech Republic is part of the O2 Group within Telefónica SA and uses the O2 brand for all consumer-facing activities.

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. Our next-generation technologies, for both service providers and enterprises, span access and core networks, support multimedia and business-critical applications, and help eliminate today's barriers to efficiency, speed and performance by simplifying networks and connecting people with information. 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.

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