First to Demonstrate HSDPA Wireless Broadband in Japan

ASIA : BB Mobile, a SOFTBANK Group company, and Nortel have completed what is believed to be Japan's first 'supercharged' wireless data transmission of 14.4 million bits per second (Mbps) -- 30 times faster than today's commercially deployed wireless networks -- using Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) technology.

Inset : Peter MacKinnon, president, GSM/UMTS, Nortel comments below.

Live field tests were conducted with mobile handsets on BB Mobile's wireless network built by Nortel. Inset The trial, using the 1.7 GHz radio frequency band for mobile communications, was the first time high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) technology has been demonstrated by any operator or wireless infrastructure supplier in Japan based on published announcements. BB Mobile and Nortel conducted HSDPA testing after a trial license for W-CDMA at 1.7GHz spectrum was issued on May 30, 2005. Nortel will showcase some of the test results during Networld+Interop 2005 Tokyo (Hall 5 - Booth# 5B05) beginning June 6, 2005.

By successfully demonstrating supercharged high speeds and reliable transmission of data using HSDPA, BB Mobile and Nortel have taken a significant step forward in evolving BB Mobile's network to meet future demand for mobile broadband communication services. HSDPA is designed to advance wireless capabilities through delivery of new services like real-time DVD quality video, gaming applications, videoconferencing and split-second multimedia collaboration for business.

"Nortel is working aggressively to establish a first mover advantage in HSDPA to create a differentiated solution that will position our customers for success," said Peter MacKinnon, president, GSM/UMTS, Nortel. "The trial with BB Mobile demonstrates how this mobile broadband capability elevates the user's experience to a new plateau, and we are proud to be working with innovative operators like BB Mobile."

"BB Mobile consistently seeks ways to bring the very best in technology and value to our customers," said Hiroshi Ishihara, Director of Regulatory and External Affairs Department, BB Mobile. "This successful trial with Nortel allows us to take the next step in delivering enhanced features first to our users."

HSDPA can significantly reduce operating costs for service providers while delivering high quality communications through more efficient use of existing networks. HSDPA makes it possible for networks to carry 30 times more data traffic and to support up to twice as many wireless users per cell site compared to today's UMTS networks.

Nortel recently completed the industry's first HSDPA trial in Israel with Partner Communications. Nortel has also announced a series of industry milestones with leading chipset and data card vendors. Nortel has worked with a number of wireless operators on HSDPA trials and deployments in 2005, including mmO2, Orange (at 3GSM World Congress 2005 in Cannes, France), Vodafone (at CeBIT 2005 in Hanover, Germany) and mobilkom austria.

Nortel has demonstrated the maximum data speed enabled by HSDPA -- 14.4 megabits per second -- on commercially-available equipment, including Nortel's UMTS Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and UMTS Radio Network Controller (RNC) and terminals from Ubinetics. Nortel's equipment is designed to be HSDPA-ready and to cost-effectively upgrade to support HSDPA through software installation

The BB Mobile trial was held in Saitama prefecture using Nortel's core network for mobile communications and access network, including base stations. BB Mobile and Nortel plan to continue to work together on new wireless technologies in order to provide the best wireless experience for BB Mobile's customers.

Nortel has designed, installed and launched more than 300 wireless networks in over 70 countries. Nortel was the industry's 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 SOFTBANK Group

SOFTBANK Group is a corporate group dedicated to the development of broadband-related businesses, building on the conviction that broadband will accelerate the pace of the IT revolution in the 21st century. SOFTBANK is Japan's #1 provider of broadband infrastructure services, and its fixed-line broadband service Yahoo! BB has exceeded 30 percent household penetration in a few short years.