Bouygues Telecom moves to 3G with Nortel

August 21, 2006

Bouygues Telecom has selected Nortel as one of its suppliers for its national high-speed mobile internet and voice network. The advanced UMTS network, based on Nortel HSDPA technology, is being designed to provide customers in France with services such as high-quality live TV, high definition video on demand, MP3 streaming and multi-user mobile gaming when it goes live in early 2007. The new 5-year contract stipulates that Nortel is responsible for rolling out the network in 4 out of 6 of Bouygues Telecom's operational regions in France; including the Western, South Western, Northeastern and Mediterranean regions.

"We have strong ties with Bouygues Telecom, having supplied their network from their first GSM implementation through to our EDGE solutions, and now we will help them take the important next step to 3.5G," said Michel Clement, president of Southern Europe, Nortel. "Nortel's HSDPA technology allows mobile operators to provide new real-time services that increase the end-user's experience and helps build customer loyalty."

Nortel is currently a key supplier of Bouygues' EDGE and GPRS networks. The current infrastructure provides Bouygues Telecom with the appropriate foundation for the new network upgrade. It utilizes bandwidth more efficiently, which means it can relay cost-saving advantages to customers.

Nortel's HSDPA solution can provide connectivity at speeds up to 7.2 Mbps. The company achieved the industry's first HSDPA mobile call in January 2005. Nortel completed the first live test calls using a commercial handset solution for HSDPA in March 2005. In June 2005, Nortel became the first wireless network supplier to complete the TL9000 registration standard for Quality Management System Requirements and Measurements across its HSDPA, UMTS and GSM wireless infrastructure solutions.