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Telecom New Zealand Signs Agreement With Lucent Technologies to Expand Coverage of CDMA2000 1xEV-Do Network

Posted on: Monday, 13 June 2005, 21:00 CDT

SINGAPORE, June 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Telecom New Zealand (Telecom) and Lucent Technologies today announced an agreement to expand Telecom's CDMA2000(R) 1xEV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized) network. The EV-DO network -- the fastest mobile data network in New Zealand -- will enable Telecom to provide subscribers in every main city and town in New Zealand with new, high-speed mobile data services such as complete mobile office capabilities, high-quality video-on-demand and other high-bandwidth services at speeds of up to 2.4 Megabits per second before Christmas.

The Lucent-supplied "3G Mobile Broadband" network is currently available in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch as well as key vacation areas. As part of the new network expansion agreement, Lucent will upgrade Telecom's existing Lucent Flexent(R) CDMA2000 base stations with hardware and software to provide EV-DO coverage in virtually every main city or town in the country. Lucent Worldwide Services (LWS) will provide project management, network planning and design, installation, integration, testing and optimization services. Telecom and Lucent also are expanding an existing managed services agreement announced in June 2003 to include the management, maintenance and operation of the new EV-DO network by LWS.

"Our '3G Mobile Broadband' network has been very well-received by businesses and consumers alike, and working with Lucent we will be increasing the coverage of this network to deliver the fastest mobile data services in New Zealand to more subscribers," said Kevin Kenrick, general manager of mobile services with Telecom. "Business users enjoy being able to use all of the applications they have available in the office at any location, while consumers continue to adopt new services such as video messaging and other entertainment services."

The EV-DO network expansion agreement builds on the original EV-DO network agreement the two companies announced in June 2004.

"Telecom's EV-DO network is providing a mobile data experience that is unmatched in New Zealand, and we are very pleased to continue our work with Telecom on the development and management of this network," said Bart Vogel, president, Lucent Technologies Asia Pacific. "By expanding the coverage of this EV-DO network, more subscribers will have access to the fastest mobile data network available in the country."

Lucent's Network Solutions Group is dedicated to helping wireline, mobile and converged service providers capture the market opportunities being created by the growing demand for blended lifestyle services. A global leader in the development of commercial 3G spread-spectrum solutions, Lucent's Network Solutions Group has deployed CDMA2000, CDMA450, and W-CDMA/UMTS networks with more than 35 customers on the continents of North and South America, Asia, Europe and in the Australia/New Zealand region. Lucent has deployed more than 120,000 spread-spectrum base stations for mobile operators worldwide, of which 70,000 are already supporting 3G services.

About Lucent Technologies

Lucent Technologies designs and delivers the systems, services and software that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent uses its strengths in mobility, optical, software, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for its customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Lucent's customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. For more information on Lucent Technologies, which has headquarters in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, visit http://www.lucent.com/.

About Telecom New Zealand

Telecom is New Zealand's largest listed company and also the country's largest telecommunications provider. It is listed on the New Zealand, Australian and New York Stock Exchanges and has investors in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Europe. Telecom provides a full range of Internet, data, voice, mobile and fixed line calling services for customers in Australia and New Zealand. To learn more about Telecom visit http://www.telecom.co.nz/.

CDMA2000 is a registered trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association.

Lucent Technologies

CONTACT: Richard Wright, CommunicAsia Hall B, Booth 5B2-07, office:+852-2506-8043, mobile: +852-9378-3800, rjwright@lucent.com; or RichTeplitsky, CommunicAsia Hall B, Booth 5B2-07, office: +1-908-582-5700,rteplitsky@lucent.com, both of Lucent Technologies

Web site: http://www.lucent.com/http://www.telecom.co.nz/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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