Dec. 20, 2006

Verizon Wireless has reportedly signed a deal with Nortel to help it expand and upgrade its wireless network.

Overall, the new supply contract is valued at approximately $2 billion.

The deal calls for Nortel to help Verizon Wireless deploy additional CDMA-2000 radio base stations, switching, IP platforms, optical networking solutions and related equipment.

Back in July, Nortel first signed on as a supplier for Verizon's EV-DO Revision A network.

Verizon Wireless' upgrade efforts come at a time when the carrier announced that its data services accounted for 14 percent of its revenue in the 3rd quarter.

The expansion will support such services as V CAST Music, V CAST video, mobile games and high-speed file transfers.

The supply agreement also provides an avenue for Verizon Wireless and Nortel to advanced IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services, in terms of development and deployment.

Source: Wireless Week