Nortel Networks, Equant to Deliver Metro, Enterprise Solutions to Global Customers.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 30, 2002

Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT) (TSX:NT.) and Equant (NYSE:EQU) (EURONEXT:ENT), an industry leader in global IP (Internet Protocol) and data services for multinational corporations, have strengthened their existing relationship by agreeing to work on delivering an expanded portfolio of innovative solutions to global customers. This agreement expands a commercial contract signed in April 2002.

These joint solutions -- for next generation telephony and secure IP Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) -- will be designed to enable multinational companies to increase efficiency, simplify management, and enhance IP security on their networks.

"This new agreement with Nortel Networks is a win-win for our global customers, offering them important additional alternatives as they seek to gain competitive advantage in today's global economy," said Jack Norris, head of Customer Service and Networks at Equant.

"Our enterprise customers realize that the quality of their network services is critical in enabling new revenue streams, optimizing core operations, and reducing overall costs," said Paul Renucci, president, Metro and Enterprise Networks, Nortel Networks EMEA. "Combining solutions from Equant and Nortel Networks will position multinational corporations with a seamless migration path to IP solutions -- minimizing risk, maximizing savings, and protecting existing technology investments."

The expanded agreement includes Nortel Networks Shasta 5000 Broadband Services Node, which will offer Equant customers a broad array of secure, value-added IP services. The agreement also includes: new content and application delivery capabilities; OPTera Metro 1200 Ethernet Service Module; OPTera Metro 5200 Multiservice Platform; OPTera Metro 8000 Services Switch; Passport 8600 Routing Switch; Business Policy Switch 2000; Contivity Secure IP Service Gateways; and Business Communications Manager and Succession Communication Server 1000 IP telephony solutions.

Under the expanded agreement, the two companies will focus on supporting enterprise customers in developing customized strategies, ongoing management services, and hardware and software for migration to converged voice and data networks.

Equant has the largest network of Nortel Networks Passport switches in the world, with more than 1,900 deployed over 11 years.

Equant is a recognized industry leader in global IP and data services for multinational businesses, offering network, integration and managed services to global business. The network has unmatched seamless global reach, connecting key business centers in 220 countries and territories, with local support in 145 countries and territories. Building on more than 50 years of experience in data communications, Equant serves thousands of the world's top companies. Equant, a member of the France Telecom Group, meets the diverse needs of global companies with the industry's most extensive portfolio of managed data network services. Equant's 2001 revenues, on a pro forma basis, were more than US$3 billion.

Nortel Networks is an industry leader and innovator focused on transforming how the world communicates and exchanges information. The company is supplying its service provider and enterprise customers with communications technology and infrastructure to enable value-added IP data, voice and multimedia services spanning Metro and Enterprise Networks, Wireless Networks and Optical Long Haul Networks. As a global company, Nortel Networks does business in more than 150 countries. More information about Nortel Networks can be found on the Web at www.nortelnetworks.com.

Nortel Networks, the Nortel Networks logo, the Globemark, Shasta, OPTera, Passport, Contivity and Succession are trademarks of Nortel Networks.