Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

[khemara_qc]

CDMA2000 1X, EV-DO Wireless Technology to Support Canada's 20th Annual Summer Games

http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/July2005/1689.htm

01 July , 2005
Canada : SaskTel Mobility, an innovative Canadian wireless communications provider, has selected Nortel to expand its 3G (third generation) CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) network in the province of Saskatchewan.

The network, which is expected to be one of the fastest and most advanced wireless data networks in Canada, will deliver broadband wireless services like e-mail, Web browsing, video mail, wireless gaming and content streaming at speeds close to high-speed wireline connections. Nortel is the sole supplier of SaskTel Mobility's current 1X and EV-DO network.

The network is expected to be available by August 2005 when Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan, hosts the 20th annual Canada Summer Games (http://www.2005jeuxducanadagames.ca/english/). SaskTel Mobility will be demonstrating the benefits of the 1xEV-DO network at the Summer Games. General service availability in Regina and Saskatoon is scheduled for later in 2005. SaskTel and Nortel are sponsors of the Summer Games, Canada's premiere multi-sport event, which alternates every two years between summer and winter sports at locations across the country.

"Nortel is making it possible for us to deliver an improved wireless data network that will allow SaskTel Mobility customers to use services such as video mail and messaging, wireless gaming and content streaming at speeds close to high speed wireline Internet connections," said Robert Watson, president and chief executive officer, SaskTel. "We will continue to invest in our network to provide our mobile customers with the latest wireless technologies over the largest wireless network in the province."

"Nortel has been working with SaskTel to provide innovative wireline and wireless solutions to the people and businesses of Saskatchewan for over 75 years and we look forward to working with them as they embark on the next phase of their wireless broadband offer," said Richard Lowe, president, CDMA, Nortel. "Nortel's 1X and EV-DO solutions will help improve call clarity, boost network capacity and create efficiencies that can help reduce operating costs while at the same time, increase revenue potential with the delivery of advanced wireless voice and data service offerings."

Under a new expansion agreement with SaskTel Mobility, Nortel will provide CDMA2000 1X radio base stations, base station controllers, switching platforms and other related equipment. Nortel will also supply SaskTel Mobility with CDMA2000 1xEV-DO equipment for initial deployment in Regina and Saskatoon.

Nortel's EV-DO technology will allow SaskTel Mobility customers to download data on their mobile devices at speeds up to 2.4 Mbps with average data speeds of 300 to 500 Kbps or six times faster than available on current 1X networks.

SaskTel has a long-standing relationship with Nortel. In March 2005, SaskTel launched SaskTel Converged Desktop service, a collaborative multimedia communications service based on the Nortel Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5200 and Communication Server 2000 (CS) softswitch.

Nortel supplies EV-DO equipment to 12 of the 19 operators across the globe currently offering commercial EV-DO service. Nortel CDMA equipment is designed to support EV-DO through simple upgrades to existing hardware, which helps enable SaskTel's migration from 1X to EV-DO. This approach provides a cost-effective and rapid method for enhancing the end user experience by delivering advanced wireless services and applications.

Nortel has designed, installed and launched more than 300 wireless networks in over 70 countries. Nortel was the first supplier with wireless networks operating in all advanced radio technologies and is the only end-to-end provider of all next generation wireless solutions.

About SaskTel Mobility

SaskTel Mobility is Saskatchewan's complete wireless solutions provider, offering digital and analog cellular, wireless data and Internet, FleetNet 800, and satellite. It is a division of SaskTel, the leading full service communications company in Saskatchewan, offering complete wireline, wireless, Internet and e-business solutions over a state-of-the-art, digital network.