PTC selects 3G Merlin U530 PC card

September 21, 2004

Lucent Technologies and Novatel Wireless announced that the two companies are supplying Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC), operator of the ERA mobile network, with Merlin U530 UMTS PC Card Modems, jointly developed by Lucent and Novatel Wireless. PTC has already received initial shipments of the Merlin U530, which are being used on Poland's first UMTS network; service became available to users in Warsaw and its surroundings in late August.

Lucent and Novatel Wireless will continue to supply PTC Merlin U520 cards to support PTC's commercial UMTS network. Lucent also will supply connectivity software for the ERA mobile network.

"PTC, as the market leader, is the first service provider in Poland to put a UMTS network into service. Adding 3G functionality onto PTC's ERA network has provided valuable feedback into how to enhance the customer experience. It is also a significant contribution to building the information society in Poland," said Boguslaw Kulakowski, PTC's president of the board. "Users of the Merlin U530 card in the ERA network can already make use of international roaming with other UMTS networks in Europe and worldwide, as well as of GPRS transmission where no UMTS coverage is available."

The Merlin U530 cards will enable PTC to offer their customers enhanced services such as secure wireless access to information -- stored behind corporate firewalls -- at data transfer speeds of up to 384 Kbps. The Merlin U530 also supports roaming onto GPRS networks. Customers using the ERA mobile network will be able to access enterprise applications and stay in touch with clients while away from the office, ultimately providing companies with a critical competitive advantage.