30th November 2006

Nortel Networks Wins Major Fibre Optics Contract in Iraq

Iraq Telecommunications & Post Corporation (ITPC), Iraq's sole fixed-line operator, has awarded Nortel a US$20 m contract to build a nationwide optical backbone to deliver high-quality high-bandwidth data, video and multimedia services for personal and business communications. Nortel was selected by ITPC as the prime contractor for the Iraq national optical backbone following a public tender process.

"This national project is vitally important to the many telecoms projects underway that will help rebuild the capabilities of the Iraqi society and economy," said H.E. Mohamed Allawi, Iraq Minister of Communications. "We selected Nortel's advanced networking technology as the right foundation for Iraqi telecommunications and are confident that the improved communications made possible by this network will help accelerate the reconstruction of our country."

"Restoring and improving countrywide communications is vital for the reconstruction of Iraq," said Simon Beard, director of Middle East Business Development, Nortel EMEA. "This contract is testament to Nortel's successful record of DWDM transmission projects in Iraq since 2004 and our continuing commitment to proactively partner with ITPC in its efforts to rebuild Iraqi communications."

The new network will link to the ITPC's Iraq South Ring DWDM network - built by Nortel in 2004 as part of the US aid-funded Iraq reconstruction programme. The network delivers broadband optical services between Baghdad and Basra.

Under the terms of the contract, Nortel will supply a national optical backbone network that covers a distance of 5000 km and includes 35 major cities. The network will be constructed using Nortel's next generation DWDM solution including Common Photonic Layer, Optical Multiservice Edge 6500 terminals with electronic dispersion management technology and Optical Network Manager for simplifying field operations. The resilient network comprises seven interlocking rings providing a bandwidth capacity of up to 160Gbp/s per ring.

In contrast, Mobile Telecommunications Company, a leading mobile operator in the Middle East and Africa, is delivering high-speed mobile services such as mobile video, multimedia messaging and web browsing in Kuwait with a Nortel optical solution.
The MTC Kuwait transport network is delivered by products from Nortel's Metro Ethernet Networking solutions portfolio and comprises the Nortel Optical Metro 4150 platform at hub sites for aggregation and the Optical Multiservice Edge 6500 in the core for further aggregation and 10G DWDM transport. The network has a redundant architecture to support the aggressive reliability targets required to support the volume and category of traffic handled.

Finally, Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the number one integrated innovations hub for high-tech industries in the Middle East, selected Nortel to supply a next-generation, highly-resilient IP network for its headquarters opening in early 2007. The new infrastructure will be deployed by Nortel's partner Beta Information Technology.
Dubai Silicon Oasis is a wholly-owned entity of the government of Dubai, operating as a free zone technology park for semiconductors, microelectronics and other electronic-based companies looking to set up their regional headquarters and R&D divisions.

Web: www.nortel.com