Nortel Networks has struck two big deals recently with companies in Israel and China.
On Wednesday, Nortel received a $93 million contract from Israel’s Partner Communications, marking the Canadian company’s first deal with Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa group.
Partner has selected Nortel to supply what is expected to be Israel’s first third generation (3G) mobile phone network. Ericsson and Nokia supplied Partner’s second generation network.
The network, when completed, is expected to boost voice and data capacity. Partner will also be able to offer new services such as person-to-person video telephony, which will create new sources of revenue, the company said.
Initial deployment will begin by the end of 2003 in the greater Tel Aviv area, Partner said in a statement. It will be followed by other deployments to enable coverage across Israel.
Nortel also signed contracts with China Netcom and China Telecom to provide the Shasta 5000 Broadband Service Node (BSN) as a foundation for delivering broadband IP services to end-users.
China Netcom’s Shandong Branch will deploy Nortel’s Shasta 5000 BSNs to build the second phase of its provincial IP-based Metropolitan Area Network. It plans to offer services like secure Internet access, content delivery, IP Virtual Private Networks and traffic management to enterprises and other high-end customers.
China Telecom’s Shanghai Branch will deploy Shasta 5000 BSNs to provide enhanced security and traffic management features to enable applications like e-learning, gaming and remote offices. It will also provide high-speed Internet access to 500,000 new ADSL subscribers in Shanghai city.
“We are honored that China Netcom and China Telecom have once again chosen to deploy Shasta 5000 BSNs,” said Robert Mao, president and chief executive officer of Nortel in Greater China. “This further testifies to Nortel Networks technology leadership and long-term commitment to the Chinese market.”
Nortel: www.nortel.com
