Lucent Technologies And Novatel Wireless To Supply 3G UMTS PC Cards Modems To Poland's PTC For Mobile High-Speed Data Services
PTC to provide customers on its "ERA" UMTS network with mobile Internet access using Merlin U530™ Wireless PC Card Modems, jointly developed by Lucent and Novatel Wireless
SEPTEMBER 21, 2004
WARSAW, POLAND AND SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) and Novatel Wireless (NASDAQ: NVTL) today announced that the two companies are supplying Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa Sp. z o.o. (PTC), operator of the ERA mobile network, with Merlin™ U530 Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (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 Bogus³aw Ku³akowski, 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 kilobits per second (Kbps). The Merlin U530 also supports roaming onto Global Packet Radio Access (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.
"We are pleased to support PTC as they introduce innovative mobile high-speed data services on their UMTS network," said Stan Szuder, customer group leader, Central and Eastern Europe for Lucent Technologies. "These services are particularly attractive to business customers, and will give PTC a competitive advantage in meeting the demands of the enterprise market segment."
Lucent has conducted substantial primary research on the market for mobile high-speed data services, sponsoring a series of in-depth market studies that revealed substantial demand for 3G mobile data access among businesses, particularly for mobile office applications such as emails with data-heavy attachments, and corporate Intranet and Internet access.
"This represents our first customer deployment in Eastern Europe, and we are pleased to expand our market reach into this important region," said Rob Hadley, vice president of sales for Novatel Wireless. "This agreement further cements our leadership position as a global supplier of 3G UMTS data solutions."
Lucent and Novatel Wireless are the world's leading providers of 3G UMTS (W-CDMA) wireless PC Card modems to support mobile high-speed data services. The two companies are currently supplying more than 12 mobile operators in 16 countries worldwide.
ABOUT POLSKA TELEFONIA CYFROWA AND ERA
Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa Sp. z o.o. (PTC) is a leading Poland's provider of wireless nationwide dual-band GSM 900 and 1800 services, and is a UMTS license holder. PTC is the operator of ERA mobile network and HEYAH! Pre-paid service. PTC has presented its ready-to-market 3G solution three years ago. In September 2001, during the National Symposium of Telecommunications (KST) in Bydgoszcz, PTC as the first company in Poland, established voice call via a UMTS network. Since Autumn 2001 till 2002 PTC conducted successful technical tests of UMST systems. More on ERA and PTC at: http://www.era.pl.
ABOUT LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES
Lucent Technologies designs and delivers the systems, services and software that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent uses its strengths in mobility, optical, software, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for its customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Lucent's customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. For more information on Lucent Technologies, which has headquarters in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, visit www.lucent.com.
Lucent Technologies Poland, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lucent Technologies, provides communications solutions to operators and telecom and Internet service providers in Poland. For more information on Lucent Technologies in Poland visit the company's web site at http://www.lucent.com.pl.
ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions. Novatel Wireless' MerlinTM PC Cards, ExpediteTM Embedded Modems, Freedom Box™ Ruggedized Modems and MobiLink Communications Software Suite enable high-speed wireless access to personal, corporate and public information via portable computers, handheld devices and vertical market applications. The company delivers innovative 3G solutions to operators, distributors and vertical markets worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL.
© 2004 Novatel Wireless. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless logo, Merlin, Merlin U530, Expedite, Freedom Box, and MobiLink are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. All other brands, products and company names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders.
This release may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended to date. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained herein. These factors include risks relating to technological changes, continued acceptance of Novatel Wireless' products and dependence on intellectual property rights. These factors, as well as other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, are discussed in more detail in Novatel Wireless' filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at www.sec.gov) and other regulatory agencies.
Emily Baxter
Lucent Technologies - Europe
+44 (0)20 7318 1044 - Office
+44 (0)7803 278 821 - Mobile
baxtere@lucent.com
Katie Assar
For Novatel Wireless, Inc.
+1 619 516 2559 - Office
+1 858 395 2275 - Mobile
nvtl@lewispr.com
Antoni Mielniczuk
PTC Sp. z o.o.
+48 22 413 6310 - Office
amielniczuk@era.pl
Kasia Kowalska
Lucent Technologies - Poland
+48 22 692 3695 - Office
+48 601 326 300 - Mobile
kkowalska@lucent.com