Nortel to Build Brisbane-Perth Network

SYDNEY, Australia, April 8 -- Nortel Networks has signed a five-year supply and services agreement with Optus for approximately $175 million to build a 10 gigabits-per-second, dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) link between Brisbane and Perth, completing the national rollout of Optus' DWDM optical network. Nortel will extend Optus' DWDM access into Australia's metropolitan areas.

Under the agreement, Nortel also plans to upgrade the existing Optus DMS voice switches to enable them for packet voice and to work closely with Optus to assist in bringing new services to market.