Verizon Wireless and Lucent Technologies Launch Commercial 3G Mobile Data Network With Speeds That Rival Fastest Wireline Connections

WASHINGTON, DC — Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's largest and most reliable wireless network, and Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) today announced the commercial launch of a third-generation (3G) mobile data network in the Washington, D.C. area.

Customers can now experience a high-speed, wide-area, secure wireless data network -- BroadbandAccess -- based on CDMA2000(R) 1xEV-DO technology. The Lucent-supplied network will provide customers with data services at speeds of 300-500 kilobits per second with an upper limit of two Megabits per second (Mbps) -- comparable to the fastest wireline connections.

"We congratulate Verizon Wireless on the commercial launch of this service, which demonstrates their strong commitment to bringing leading-edge data solutions to their customers," said Lisa De Laurentis, vice president of sales at Lucent Technologies. "The BroadbandAccess network provides enterprise customers with the best of both worlds - fast, reliable, high-quality, and secure mobile data access coupled with the convenience of mobility. We expect the service to be very well-received based on feedback from our market trial."

"Verizon Wireless is committed to meeting the ever changing and increasingly mobile needs of enterprise customers," said Bill Stone, vice president of marketing, Verizon Wireless. "With BroadbandAccess, and through the support of technology partners like Lucent, we are able to surpass expectations and bring speed, security, and flexibility to our data customers wherever they travel."

With virtual private network (VPN) connections, business customers can access the BroadbandAccess high-speed data network as an extension of their corporate local area network (LAN) or intranet, allowing them to work from any location as if they were in the office, with the same speed, security, authentication and data protection.

In November 2002, Verizon Wireless and Lucent completed a successful trial of 1xEV-DO technology with more than 200 enterprise customers and consumers in the Washington D.C. area, which paved the way for the commercial launch of the BroadbandAccess network. The positive feedback from businesses and government agencies participating in the market trial revealed that there is a significant demand for high-quality, high-speed mobile data services.

Nearly 80 percent of all participants said 1xEV-DO technology increased efficiency, productivity and accessibility. In addition, two-thirds of enterprise users considered the Verizon Wireless service superior to other high-speed data technologies they had used.

Verizon Wireless customers can utilize the BroadbandAccess network by equipping their laptop PCs with the Verizon Wireless PC 5220 wireless modem card. In the future, Verizon Wireless plans to offer additional BroadbandAccess cards, modem solutions for the office, and a wide range of the latest handheld mobile devices.

To help prepare for the launch of the BroadbandAccess network, Lucent expanded the footprint of the initial trial network by deploying new Flexent® Modular Cell 4.0 base stations and upgrading existing Flexent® CDMA base stations with channel cards and software. Lucent also provided its Flexent® Mobility Server to provide an open Internet Protocol interface to the data network. Lucent Worldwide Services provided installation and integration services.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 34.6 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE:VOD)(LSE:VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.  

About Lucent Technologies
Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and delivers networks for the world's largest communications service providers. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent relies on its strengths in mobility, optical, data and voice networking technologies as well as software and services to develop next-generation networks. The company's systems, services and software are designed to help customers quickly deploy and better manage their networks and create new, revenue-generating services that help businesses and consumers. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit its Web site at http://www.lucent.com.  

CDMA2000 is a registered trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association.

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