News for and about the Internet2 community

["Lauren B. Kallens" <>]

SURFnet, Internet2 Deploy Optical Solutions from Nortel to Enable
Unprecedented International Research Collaboration 

Leading Technology Organizations Bring Optical-Packet Capabilities to
Critical International Exchange Points

PITTSBURGH, Penn. – November 9, 2004 - SURFnet and Internet2(R) have
deployed industry-leading optical solutions from Nortel* [NYSE/TSX: NT] to
provide optical interconnect capabilities into their internationally
acclaimed research and education networks. The combination of these two
deployments will allow for unprecedented secure and reliable collaboration
among researchers and scientists globally.

SURFnet, the global pioneer in advanced network research, has deployed a
Nortel Optical Multiservice Edge 6500 and a high-density Nortel Optical
Cross Connect HDXc (HDXc) in its NetherLight advanced optical switching
facility in Amsterdam. Nortel will also provide SURFnet with a Nortel Common
Photonic Layer (CPL) for deployment in the SURFnet6 optical backbone
network, which includes NetherLight as a major node. 

Internet2, a consortium led by over 200 universities working in partnership
with industry and government to develop and deploy advanced network
applications and technologies, will deploy Nortel Optical Multiservice Edge
6500 and Nortel HDXc into the Manhattan Landing (MAN LAN) facility, a
high-performance exchange point used to facilitate Internet Protocol
(IPv4/v6) peering between U.S. and international research and education
networks.

Nortel optical solutions offer new levels of scalability, packet capability
and flexibility to these two high-performance nodes. As a result of this
deployment, both NetherLight and MAN LAN will become main hubs of the Global
Lambda Integrated Facility (GLIF). The GLIF community shares a common vision
of building a new grid computing paradigm in which the central architectural
element is optical networks, not computers, to support this decade’s most
demanding e-science applications. The GLIF’s links are being made available
for scheduled use by e-scientists and computer scientists involved with
advanced data-intensive application, middleware, protocol and optical
networking development. 

“Deploying Nortel HDXc and Optical Multiservice Edge 6500 is a logical step
in the evolution of NetherLight,” said Kees Neggers, managing director,
SURFnet. “It will allow us to further develop the prominent role The
Netherlands is playing in the GLIF, with virtually unlimited switching
capacity and seamless integration with our existing optical infrastructure.”


As part of the Dutch GigaPort Next Generation Network project, SURFnet is
building a hybrid optical and packet switching infrastructure using the
latest optical technology from Nortel as part of its network evolution and
expansion plan for the next seven years. Nortel’s highly-integrated solution
delivers both IP and optical broadband services over an extremely resilient
common infrastructure, on top of SURFnet’s own dark fibers, that is suited
for and efficient for all traffic types. With unprecedented levels of
intelligence, the hybrid network will use the unique blend of IPv4, IPv6 and
optical technology that is best suited for each particular application, thus
dynamically allocating the IP and optical bandwidth. 

Similarly, the expansion of MAN LAN is one of the first steps within a
broader Internet2 plan to design and deliver an advanced network
infrastructure to meet the needs of its member community for 2006 and
beyond. This plan includes the design of a hybrid optical packet
infrastructure and the development of a national-scale evaluation testbed.
With this Nortel deployment, the MAN LAN will expand its capabilities to
incorporate additional optical cross-connect functionality for circuit
switching, extending its ability to create optical paths for the research
community.
 
“Internet2 is focused on enabling leading-edge network capabilities for the
U.S. research and education community and working in close collaboration
with our international partners such as SURFnet,” said Steve Corbató,
Internet2 director of network initiatives. “Through this integration of
Nortel optical networking technology into MAN LAN, we will enable greater
global research collaboration, while at the same time accelerating our work
with our U.S.-based member community to create a new class of network
infrastructure with both optical circuit and Internet packet capabilities.” 

“We’re pleased to be working with world-leading research network operators
such as SURFnet and Internet2 to pioneer new network architectures that
better support data-intensive research applications,” said Philippe Morin,
general manager, Optical Networks, Nortel. “Our HDX platform has been
developed to work seamlessly with our Optical Multiservice Edge 6500 to
underpin the scalability and packet capabilities of these two major GLIF
nodes.” 

The new capabilities of NetherLight and MAN LAN will be showcased as part of
a live demonstration at the SC2004 High Performance Computing, Networking
and Storage Conference, Nov. 6-12, 2004 in Pittsburgh, Penn.

About SURFnet
SURFnet operates and innovates the national research network, which connects
over 150 institutions in higher education and research in The Netherlands.
The organization is among the leading research network operators in the
world. SURFnet is responsible for the realization of GigaPort Next
Generation Network, a project of the Dutch government, trade and industry,
educational institutions and research institutes to strengthen the national
knowledge infrastructure. Research on optical and IP networking and grids is
a prominent part of the project. For more information please visit
www.surfnet.nl/info/en. 

About Internet2
Led by more than 200 U.S. universities working with industry and government,
Internet2 develops and deploys advanced network applications and
technologies for research and higher education, accelerating the creation of
tomorrow’s Internet. Internet2 recreates the partnerships among academia,
industry, and government that helped foster today’s Internet in its infancy.
For more information, visit: www.internet2.edu.

About MAN LAN
Manhattan Landing (MAN LAN) is a high performance exchange point, located in
New York City, used to facilitate peering among U.S. and international
research and education networks. The exchange point is currently operated
through a collaborative effort between Internet2, New York State Education
and Research Network (NYSERNet), Indiana University, and the Internet
Educational Equal Access Foundation (IEEAF). Providing both high-performance
Ethernet frame-based and optical interconnection functionality, MAN LAN
supports leading research networks from around the world including: Abilene,
CANARIE, GÉANT, HEANET, SINET, SURFnet, and Qatar Foundation. 

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 world’s 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 world’s 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 Nortel’s
independent review and planned restatement or revisions of its previously
announced or filed financial results; the impact of the management changes
announced on April 28, 2004 and August 19, 2004; the impact of the inability
to meet Nortel’s filing obligations on support facilities and public debt
obligations; the sufficiency of Nortel’s restructuring activities, including
the work plan announced on August 19, 2004 as updated on September 30, 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 Nortel’s customers; fluctuations in
Nortel’s operating results and general industry, economic and market
conditions and growth rates; the communication by Nortel’s auditors of the
existence of material weaknesses in internal controls; Nortel’s ability to
recruit and retain qualified employees; fluctuations in Nortel’s cash flow,
level of outstanding debt and current debt ratings; the use of cash
collateral to support Nortel’s normal course business activities; the
dependence on Nortel’s subsidiaries for funding; the impact of Nortel’s
defined benefit plans and deferred tax assets on results of operations and
Nortel’s cash flows; Nortel’s dependence on new product development and its
ability to predict market demand for particular products; Nortel’s 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 in the telecommunications industry; changes in regulation
of the Internet; the impact of the credit risks of Nortel’s 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 of Nortel’s purchase contracts; the impact of Nortel’s 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; the future success of Nortel’s strategic alliances; and
the adverse resolution of litigation, investigations, intellectual property
disputes and similar matters. For additional information with respect to
certain of these and other factors, see the most recent Form 10-Q/A and Form
10-K/A filed by Nortel with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission. 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.
-end-
*Nortel, the Nortel logo and the Globemark are trademarks of Nortel
Networks. Internet2 is a registered trademark of the University Corporation
for Advanced Internet Development. 
*Use of the terms “partner” and “partnership” does not imply a legal
partnership relationship between Nortel and any other party. 


Shelley Chrestman               
Nortel           
(972) 685-7574