Verizon Wireless Completes First Live 3G Wireless Data Call On Its Lucent Technologies-Supplied Network

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Verizon Wireless and Lucent Technologies today announced the first high-speed third-generation (3G) wireless data call on a commercial Lucent-supplied network, demonstrating a wireless web page download at a transmission rate ten times faster than what's now available on code division multiple access (CDMA) networks.

The peak transmission rate of 153 kilobits per second (kb/s) is more than twice that available on typical 56 kb/s dial-up modems. The transmission was made possible by a newly developed circuit pack installed in a standard commercial Lucent Flexent™ base station located near Trenton, N.J..

The circuit pack upgrade and software modification are all that Verizon Wireless needs to meet the requirements of the International Telecommunications Union's 3G standard for the cdma2000-1x technology, known as IS-2000. Lucent's flexible equipment design will enable the nation's largest wireless operator to equip much of its network for high-speed wireless data services without massive changeouts.

"It's clear our customers will demand both voice and data services from our networks in the future and this is the first significant step in providing rich, robust digital data networking for them," said Richard Lynch, executive vice president and chief technical officer for Verison Wireless. "Due to this successful 3G 1X demonstration, I'm confident Verizon Wireless will be ready for commercial deployment very soon. Based on this, we expect to begin implementing plans to bring the technology to market next year."

"Lucent and Verizon Wireless have had a long history of collaboration in commercializing CDMA networks, " said Michael Iandolo, Lucent's vice president-cellular and PCS product management and marketing. "Some six years ago we began to test second-generation digital improvements to their original analog network with an incremental investment that preserved those investments already made. Over the next few months, we will further enhance the value of Verizon Wireless' CDMA network assets with the seamless introduction of 3G capabilities, while effectively doubling network capacity for voice."

Last month Verizon Wireless named Lucent a primary supplier of network infrastructure and announced it intends to purchase up to $1.5 billion in equipment, software and services. With this capital program Verizon Wireless will increase coverage and capacity in key markets and offer 3G mobile Internet access, other enhanced data and voice services to business and residential customers.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 25 million wireless voice and data customers and nearly 4 million paging customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE:BEL), Vodafone AirTouch Plc (LSE:VOD; NYSE:VOD), and GTE Corp. (NYSE:GTE). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The new company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in New York City and Bedminster, N.J., is 30,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company in its Media Center on the Web at: http://www.verizonwireless.com/mediacenter.

About Lucent Technologies

Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and delivers the systems, software, silicon and services for next-generation communications networks for service providers and enterprises. Backed by the research and development of Bell Labs, Lucent focuses on high-growth areas such as optical and wireless networks; Internet infrastructure; communications software; communications semiconductors and optoelectronics; Web-based enterprise solutions that link private and public networks; and professional network design and consulting services. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit its Web site at http://www.lucent.com.

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