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Marconi and France Telecom Form Technology Agreement for Advancement of RF Optimization Software for Mobile Operators

Posted on: Monday, 26 July 2004, 06:00 CDT

DALLAS, July 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Marconi's Wireless Business Unit, part of Marconi Corporation plc (LONDON: MONI and Nasdaq: MRCIY) announced today an agreement to develop and integrate France Telecom Research and Development RF design and optimization technologies into Marconi's leading Planet(R) EV software portfolio.

"France Telecom's R&D group is widely recognized for its technical skill, reflected in the quality and leadership of the networks using its products, and we are very pleased to partner with such a respected organization," said Chip Wagner, head of the Marconi Wireless Business Unit. "Our agreement brings together the complementary skills of our two organizations to address the evolving needs of operators as they design, deploy, and optimize 2G and 3G networks. The benefits to our customers will be immediate, providing them with additional compelling and fully integrated applications that are directly targeted at solving their highest priority network challenges. We fully expect this relationship to further accelerate and extend our lead position in the market."

This cooperation leverages the collective efforts of two superior mobile research and development teams delivering world-class software solutions for RF design and operations. Marconi will incorporate France Telecom applications and technology within the Planet EV network design and optimization suite, allowing users to benefit from best-in-class software within a single platform. These tools will complement Marconi's existing portfolio and will be specifically targeted to maximizing the performance, quality and profitability of existing networks -- uniquely enabling 3G network migration and rollout.

"By leveraging Marconi's global footprint and considerable customer base, this partnership is key to bringing France Telecom's advanced radio planning technologies to the market. We are truly excited about partnering with the recognized leader in this space. We believe our simulation techniques will have significant value to mobile operators and provide an undeniable advantage in the market," said Francois Jamet, head of Intellectual Property and Licensing, France Telecom R&D. "We look forward to improving our leadership role through continuing the development of advanced technologies together."

Notes to editors

About France Telecom

France Telecom is one of the world's leading telecommunications carriers, with 117,1 million customers on the five continents (220 countries and territories) and consolidated operating revenues of 46.1 billion euros for 2003. Through its major international brands, including Orange, Wanadoo, Equant and GlobeCast, France Telecom provides businesses, consumers and other carriers with a complete portfolio of solutions that spans local, long- distance and international telephony, wireless, Internet, multimedia, data, broadcast and cable TV services.

France Telecom is the second-largest wireless operator and Internet access provider in Europe, and a world leader in telecommunications solutions for multinational corporations. France Telecom is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges.

France Telecom R&D, a research and development centre, provides innovation thrust for France Telecom and its subsidiaries, in France and abroad. Its role is to anticipate revolutions in technology and customer use, providing innovation to offer customers the best from telecommunications, simultaneously imagining today the technologies which will be part of their daily life tomorrow. France Telecom R&D's results have put the Group in the lead position in Europe in terms of telecommunications research and development. http://www.rd.francetelecom.fr/fr/medias/medias.php

About Marconi Corporation plc

Marconi Corporation plc is a global telecommunications equipment, services and solutions company. The company's core business is the provision of innovative and reliable optical networks, broadband routing and switching and broadband access technologies and services. The company's customer base includes many of the world's largest telecommunications operators.

The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol MONI and on NASDAQ under the ticker MRCIY. Additional information about Marconi Corporation can be found at http://www.marconi.com/ .

All brands or product names are trademarks of their respective holders.

This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to products, partners, customers, future growth and other matters. Please refer to the Form 10-K report filed by Marconi Corporation plc with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.

Press enquiries:

Colin Urwin tel +1 613 271 5609, email colin.urwin@marconi.com

Investor enquiries:

Heather Green tel: + 44 207 306 1735; email: heather.green@marconi.com

Marconi Corporation plc

CONTACT: Press, Colin Urwin, +1-613-271-5609, or colin.urwin@marconi.com, or Investor, Heather Green, +44-207-306-1735, or heather.green@marconi.com ,both of Marconi Corporation plc

Web site: http://www.marconi.com/http://www.rd.francetelecom.fr/fr/medias/medias.php

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