Nortel Wins US $525 Million in China Wireless Contracts

[Markham, CANADA] Nortel
Networks has won contracts valued at an estimated US $525 million
for new wireless networks expected to serve up to 17 million
subscribers in Greater China, and to pave the way for next generation
Wireless Internet services.

The awards include an estimated US$ 250 million expansion of
Chunghwa Telecom‘s Taiwan-wide GSM 900/1800
dual-band digital cellular network, and an estimated US $275 million
in new network builds and expansions by China Unicom in the People’s
Republic of China.

Nortel Networks is providing Chunghwa Telecom with more than 1,900
new GSM 900/1800 base stations to enable dual-band subscriber
roaming, and a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) radio software
upgrade to support high-speed Wireless Internet services.

“The current expansion will make it possible for Chunghwa Telecom to
begin deploying Wireless Internet services by August 2001,” said Yue
Chin-Yi, president, Long Distance and Mobile Business Group, Chunghwa
Telecom.

“The enhanced network will not only reach a record six million
subscribers, it will also fuel a whole new wave of growth and
profitability by creating an advanced platform for new generation
mobile content, commerce and e-business services and applications.”

Nortel Networks has a long-term relationship with Chunghwa Telecom
since building the operator’s initial mobile network in 1994. To
date, Chunghwa Telecom has announced contracts with Nortel Networks
estimated to be worth US $900 million.

Nortel Networks has won wireless network contract awards in 17 of the
31 Chinese provinces.