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Nortel, Wireless Valley Team to Maximize Wireless Mesh Network Services

Announcement posted by Nortel 20 May 2005

Tailored to the unique architecture of Nortels wireless mesh network technology, MeshPlanner allows designers to simulate the mesh solution on a computerized model of the deployment area. By examining the impact of obstacles such as buildings, parking garages and foliage on wireless coverage, MeshPlanner enables the network to be deployed faster while ensuring excellent resiliency, redundancy and performance.
Wireless mesh networks often cover hundreds of acres of service area. Man-made and natural obstructions must be factored into these designs, which can be costly, time consuming and lead to troublesome inaccuracies when manual planning methods are used. MeshPlanners precise computer modeling of an area removes the guesswork from planning by recommending where wireless access points (APs) should be placed to maximize coverage and ease installation. The model also predicts how landscape will impact wireless signals and simulates capacity required to ensure uninterrupted service for specified numbers of users.
To meet the ever growing demand for always on wireless connections across a variety of devices, network planners need to be able to deliver reliable, cost-effective communication solutions as quickly as possible, said Mark Whitton, general manager, Wireless LAN Solutions, Nortel. People want full mobility to be connected anywhere, at any time. Nortel is making this a reality through wireless mesh technology that extends WLAN coverage to expansive outdoor areas such as parks, municipalities and university campuses.
Delivering wireless access everywhere means that mesh networks have to be designed with exacting, predictable precision. A noted leader in radio frequency design and management, Wireless Valley has created for Nortel one of the industrys most robust and powerful mesh planning tools for network design, and ultimately, enhancing the human experience for the end-user, said Whitton.
Nortel is a recognized leader in the wireless industry, and we are excited they chose Wireless Valley for their mesh network design solution, said Jim Welch, CEO and president, Wireless Valley. Mesh networks are clearly gaining traction in various markets and MeshPlanner will help support this growth by enabling quick and effective design of large, multi-faceted networks.
Wireless mesh networks which provide a cost-effective method for extending WLAN coverage more broadly into business and end user markets such as metropolitan areas, shopping malls, airports and stadiums are increasingly being deployed around the world by enterprises and service providers. Nortels Wireless Mesh Network solution has been deployed or selected by some of the worlds leading governments, businesses and universities, including Taipei City, Kaohsiung City, University of Arkansas, Edith Cowan University, Seo Won University and Black Stone Golf & Resort.
Now available, MeshPlanner for Nortel provides an easy and flexible process for designing mesh networks in a few simple steps. First, designers import a map of the location and identify obstructions such as buildings or trees that will impact wireless signals. End-user regions are then created by establishing capacity requirements including how many users are expected and what type of service will be needed. The designer then adds APs to the end-user service area and is able to run simulations that visualize network performance and signal strength to ensure no coverage holes exist.
MeshPlanner allows designers to next create transit links between APs within the mesh network and then determine which APs will have wired access to the network. To complete the design, the user runs a comprehensive simulation to check coverage areas, redundancy, capacity requirements, transit links and AP connections. If any design factors are not met, MeshPlanner highlights which APs need to be adjusted and corrections are made.
Wireless Valleys products enable companies to establish a repeatable and scalable process for designing and managing wireless networks. The composition and contents of a building or city such as the wall construction, trees and electronic interferers can have significant impact on wireless signals. Adding to the challenge is the invisibility of radio waves. Using a predictive approach pioneered by the company, Wireless Valleys software enables design engineers to interactively visualize how the wireless signals will propagate and fine tune the network design with what if analysis to determine optimum performance. Once the network is installed, IT departments use the software to visualize radio frequency (RF) activity, detect wireless network issues and remotely resolve problems. Wireless Valleys approach has been proven in thousands of in-building and campus deployments where quality of service requirements have been met; design, deployment and management costs have been minimized; and investments in wireless equipment have been maximized.
About Wireless Valley
Wireless Valley Communications is a leading provider of innovative software for the efficient design, documentation, monitoring and control of wireless networks. Enterprises, universities, multi-tenant office buildings, carriers and businesses worldwide look to Wireless Valleys software to easily plan, visualize, and manage any PCS, Cellular, 3G and 802.11, RFID and ZigBee wireless network. Wireless Valley has developed a rich intellectual property portfolio with more than 100 U.S. and international patents pending and issued. For more information, visit www.wirelessvalley.com or call (512) 821-1560.
About Nortel
Nortel is a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities that enhance the human experience, ignite and power global commerce, and secure and protect the worlds most critical information. Serving both service provider and enterprise customers, Nortel delivers innovative technology solutions encompassing end-to-end broadband, Voice over IP, multimedia services and applications, and wireless broadband designed to help people solve the worlds greatest challenges. Nortel does business in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at www.nortel.com. For the latest Nortel news, visit www.nortel.com/news.
Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things: the outcome of regulatory and criminal investigations and civil litigation actions related to Nortels restatements and the impact any resulting legal judgments, settlements, penalties and expenses could have on Nortels results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and any related potential dilution of Nortels common shares; the findings of Nortels independent review and implementation of recommended remedial measures; the outcome of the independent review with respect to revenues for specific identified transactions, which review will have a particular emphasis on the underlying conduct that led to the initial recognition of these revenues; the restatement or revisions of Nortels previously announced or filed financial results and resulting negative publicity; the existence of material weaknesses in Nortels internal control over financial reporting and the conclusion of Nortels management and independent auditor that Nortels internal control over financial reporting is ineffective, which could continue to impact Nortels ability to report its results of operations and financial condition accurately and in a timely manner; the impact of Nortels and NNLs failure to timely file their financial statements and related periodic reports, including breach of its support facility and public debt obligations and Nortels inability to access its shelf registration statement filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); ongoing SEC reviews, which may result in changes to our public filings; the potential delisting or suspension of Nortels and NNLs publicly traded securities; the impact of management changes, including the termination for cause of Nortels former CEO, CFO and Controller in April 2004; the sufficiency of Nortels restructuring activities, including the work plan announced on August 19, 2004 as updated on September 30, 2004 and December 14, 2004, including the potential for higher actual costs to be incurred in connection with restructuring actions compared to the estimated costs of such actions; cautious or reduced spending by Nortels customers; increased consolidation among Nortels customers and the loss of customers in certain markets; fluctuations in Nortels operating results and general industry, economic and market conditions and growth rates; fluctuations in Nortels cash flow, level of outstanding debt and current debt ratings; Nortels monitoring of the capital markets for opportunities to improve its capital structure and financial flexibility; Nortels ability to recruit and retain qualified employees; the use of cash collateral to support Nortels normal course business activities; the dependence on Nortels subsidiaries for funding; the impact of Nortels defined benefit plans and deferred tax assets on results of operations and Nortels cash flow; the adverse resolution of class actions, litigation in the ordinary course of business, intellectual property disputes and similar matters; Nortels dependence on new product development and its ability to predict market demand for particular products; Nortels ability to integrate the operations and technologies of acquired businesses in an effective manner; the impact of rapid technological and market change; the impact of price and product competition; barriers to international growth and global economic conditions, particularly in emerging markets and including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of rationalization and consolidation in the telecommunications industry; changes in regulation of the Internet; the impact of the credit risks of Nortels customers and the impact of customer financing and commitments; stock market volatility generally and as a result of acceleration of the settlement date or early settlement, which is currently not available, of Nortels forward purchase contracts; negative developments associated with Nortels supply contracts and contract manufacturing agreements, including as a result of using a sole supplier for a key component of certain Optical Networks solutions; the impact of Nortels supply and outsourcing contracts that contain delivery and installation provisions, which, if not met, could result in the payment of substantial penalties or liquidated damages; and the future success of Nortels strategic alliances. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Nortel with the SEC. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Nortel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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