Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet Solution Scores High Marks in Education; George Mason University, Round Rock ISD Enhance Learning, Decrease Costs.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 2002

Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT)(TSX:NT.) today announced two deployments of its Optical Ethernet solution with educational institutions, George Mason University based in Fairfax, Va. and the Round Rock Independent School District (ISD) based in Round Rock, Texas.

Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet solution is increasingly becoming a key tool for universities and K-12 school systems that intend to leverage the Internet and new educational applications to enhance the learning process and decrease telecommunications costs.

Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet solution provides the ideal converged network solution to simply and cost-effectively deliver voice, data and video on one streamlined network. In addition, these solutions offer increased bandwidth and enhanced network performance to enable learning applications previously too expensive or difficult to implement over legacy networking infrastructures.

George Mason University is using Nortel Networks OPTera Metro 5200 Multiservice Platform, Nortel Networks Passport 8600 Routing Switch, and Business Policy Switch to provide point-to-point gigabit Ethernet services over DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplexing). The university plans to add voice traffic to their Optical Ethernet network in the future.

"Optical Ethernet is a critical component of our Distributed University, providing the technology infrastructure required for high-level research," said Randy Anderson, director, Network Engineering and Technology, George Mason University.

"The Optical Ethernet network will permit George Mason University to virtually extend its local area network (LAN) to all three of its campuses and partner universities, enabling researchers to share instruments and supercomputers, move huge amounts of data, and work collaboratively in a video environment," Anderson said.

Round Rock ISD is constructing a new high-speed network solution using Nortel Networks OPTera Metro 5200 and OPTera Metro 3500 Multiservice Platforms. The Ethernet over DWDM wide area network (WAN), deployed through OTM Engineering, an independent consulting firm, and Verizon Communications, will link the district's administration building with all 41 campuses to converge voice, data and video resources onto a single network.

"Our Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet solution will give us an immediate cost savings while delivering leading-edge technology to the classroom," said Ed Zaiontz, executive director, Department of Information Services, Round Rock Independent School District. "This high-speed optical network will enable our students and staff to immediately utilize streaming video and real-time audio applications in daily instruction."

"We are pleased to have George Mason University and Round Rock ISD join the dozens of educational institutions that are using our Optical Ethernet solution," said Steve Schilling, president, Enterprise Accounts, Nortel Networks.

"Whether deployed as a private network or managed service, Optical Ethernet enables our enterprise customers to extend the simplicity, connectivity, and cost-effectiveness of Ethernet in the LAN to the metro area network (MAN)/WAN," Schilling said. "Our education customers represent just one of the many vertical market segments taking advantage of Optical Ethernet's important benefits."

In addition, as a commitment to education and the community, Nortel Networks Kidz Online program helps students and teachers develop technology skills and integrate technology into the learning environment. This program enables delivery of content, training, lessons and assignment plans over the Internet using Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet solution.

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, OPTera and Passport are trademarks of Nortel Networks.