Nortel Networks, Sprint Selected for 3G CDMA Industry Achievement Award.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2002

Smart Antenna Trial Recognized for Innovative,

Cost-Effective Wireless Infrastructure

Sprint (NYSE:FON)(NYSE:PCS) and Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT)(TSX:NT.) have been selected by the CDMA Development Group (CDG) as sole recipients of the annual 3G CDMA Industry Achievement Award in Infrastructure Technology Innovation for their recent CDMA smart antenna trials. Announced in March 2002, these trials demonstrated improved spectrum efficiency and greater voice capacity for wireless networks through use of smart antenna technology.

Granted at 3G World Congress in Hong Kong, the award is given by the CDG to "companies that have introduced network capabilities that allow CDMA operators flexible and cost-effective solutions for implementing advanced features and an easy evolution path to future network enhancements."

The smart antenna trials were conducted using a Nortel Networks Metro Cell product platform over a live-air CDMA wireless network at Nortel Networks wireless facilities in Ottawa, Ontario. The multi cell technology trial demonstrated a two-fold increase in IS-95 voice capacity.

"The CDG recognizes that the innovation behind the Nortel Networks and Sprint smart antenna technology trial is an achievement worth the highest recognition from our organization," said Perry LaForge, executive director, CDMA Development Group. "The results of the trial complement our focus on providing highly innovative and efficient networks, and the CDG congratulates Nortel Networks and Sprint on this outstanding achievement."

The smart antenna trial was chosen to receive the award by the CDG Selection Committee, which consists of CDG officers, senior wireless infrastructure technology manufacturers, and members of the business and trade media and analyst communities. Fourteen programs were nominated by the industry-at-large for the Infrastructure Technology Innovation Award.

"Nortel Networks is pleased to be recognized by the CDG for our innovative wireless infrastructure technology and network vision," said Pascal Debon, president, Wireless Networks, Nortel Networks. "In working with carriers and all of our customers, Nortel Networks consistently seeks ways to reduce infrastructure expenses while enhancing their networks to increase user value."

"We're honored to be recognized by our peers with this industry achievement award," said Oliver Valente, chief technology officer, PCS division, Sprint. "This trial with Nortel Networks is another example of how Sprint continues to be on the leading edge of wireless voice and data evolution, utilizing next generation technology that leverages our existing investments to meet and exceed customer demands."

Nortel Networks smart antenna technology is designed to provide double the voice capacity of CDMA operators' current antenna technology using existing radio spectrum. Nortel Networks smart antenna, based on Adaptive Antenna Beam Selection (AABS) technology, allows more voice and data traffic within existing spectrum. It is applicable to IS-95, CDMA2000 1X, CDMA 1xEV-DO and CDMA 1xEV-DV air interfaces. In addition, no changes are required to air interface or mobile terminal standards in order to achieve the capacity increase benefits. Nortel Networks AABS smart antenna solution conforms to CDMA Development Group Service Operator Requirements for Smart Antenna Technology.

Nortel Networks CDMA technology maximizes existing spectrum and hardware resources to accommodate subscriber growth and reduce operational expenditures. Nortel Networks has been a leader in CDMA since 1995. Nortel Networks has deployed more than 30,000 CDMA base stations for more than 64 customers in 14 countries in varying terrain and population densities.

Nortel Networks has received the following CDG awards in recent years:

-- Infrastructure Product Innovation Award in 2000 for providing network
elements that allow operators flexible and cost effective solutions for urban,
suburban and rural implementations incorporating advanced cdmaOne features with
an easy evolution path to future enhancements for CDMA2000. This award was
shared with US WEST, Ericsson and Alcatel for the first multi-vendor integrated
wireless/wireline architecture in the United States.

-- Innovative Solutions Through Teamwork Award in 1998 for its work with
Repeater Technologies to standardize CDMA repeater products.

Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 26 million business and residential customers in over 70 countries. With approximately 80,000 employees worldwide and more than US$26 billion in annual revenues, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state of the art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network. Sprint's award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone is being extended to key global markets to provide customers with a broad portfolio of scalable IP products. Sprint's high-capacity, high-speed network gives customers fast, dependable, nonstop access to the vast majority of the world's Internet content. Sprint also operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States, already serving the majority of the nation's metropolitan areas, including more than 4,000 cities and communities.

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 and the Globemark are trademarks of Nortel Networks. Sprint is a trademark of Sprint Communications.