DENVER, June 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Suddenlink Communications, one of the 10 largest cable operators in the United States, will use a VoIP solution from Nortel(x) (NYSE/TSX: NT) to provide a suite of telephone and multimedia services to its customers. This solution will include network design, integration, management and maintenance services from the Nortel Global Services portfolio.

Suddenlink (formerly Cebridge Connections) is preparing to expand its telephony services with the acquisition of cable systems from Cox Communications (closed on May 5) and Charter Communications (expected to close in July). Together, those acquisitions will more than triple Suddenlink's size. The new network will provide VoIP-based telephony services to Suddenlink's national customer base from California to North Carolina, and will include conversion of approximately 30,000 telephony subscribers acquired from Cox.

"With Suddenlink's pending integration of several networks, it is critical that our new VoIP network integrate seamlessly with equipment from multiple vendors," said Terry Cordova, senior vice president, Engineering, Suddenlink. "Nortel's services and expertise, the proven interoperability of its VoIP solution and its IMS roadmap give us confidence that they can uniquely help our company launch and maintain a new VoIP service."

"Nortel has earned a reputation as a leader in simplifying the deployment of VoIP services for our cable customers," said Tom Buttermore, vice president and general manager, Global Cable Solutions, Nortel. "Our track record for producing quality products and contributing high-caliber expertise has made Nortel a primary choice for companies like Suddenlink looking to introduce advanced telephony to both residential and business markets."

Nortel will act as the prime integrator and lead architect for the VoIP network, bringing together solutions from multiple vendors. In addition to these network design and integration services, Nortel will provide on-site resources to manage the network for one year, and network maintenance including technical support, repair and software services.

The deployment is expected to begin later this year and be completed by the end of 2007. Suddenlink will be using PacketCable-qualified Nortel Communication Server 2000-Compacts (CS 2000-Compact) as the exclusive softswitch on their Suddenlink backbone. The CS 2000-Compact uses industry standard SIP protocol for cost effective interconnect to the public phone network and Nortel will also provide Suddenlink with IP Unity's PacketCable based Mereon(x) 6000 Media Server and Mereon Unified Messaging application, delivering voice mail features for its business and residential subscriber services. IP Unity is a messaging market leader in the cable operator segment.

Nortel ranked number one globally in carrier IP telephony for Q1 2006 and full year 2005, according to recent reports from Synergy Research Group and Dell'Oro Group. Nortel's cable solutions have been selected by leading operators around the world and span video and video on-demand transport, voice and multimedia communications, high-speed data services, managed network services for business customers, and next generation access.

Nortel's Global Services include a full range of integrated services for design, deployment, management and maintenance of end-to-end multi-vendor network solutions, including seamless migration to next generation technologies.

About Suddenlink

Already a top-10 U.S. operator of cable broadband systems, Suddenlink Communications is on track to serve approximately 1.3 million customers by July 2006. The company was established as Cebridge Connections in 2003, after taking over the operations of Classic Cable and Kingwood Cable. Since then, the company has assumed responsibility for cable systems previously owned by Alliance, Tele-Media, Thompson, USA Media, and Cox. Along the way, Suddenlink's management team has invested tens of millions of dollars to upgrade acquired facilities, bringing advanced services to a long list of cities and towns, often for the first time in the history of those communities.

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. Our next-generation technologies, for both service providers and enterprises, span access and core networks, support multimedia and business-critical applications, and help eliminate today's barriers to efficiency, speed and performance by simplifying networks and connecting people with information. Nortel does business in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at http://www.nortel.com/. For the latest Nortel news, visit http://www.nortel.com/news.

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any negative impact on Nortel's ability to make future acquisitions, raise capital, issue debt and retain employees arising from stock price volatility and further declines in the market price of Nortel's publicly traded securities, or any future share consolidation resulting in a lower total market capitalization or adverse effect on the liquidity of Nortel's common shares. 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CONTACT: Bo Gowan, (972) 685-8278, bogowan@nortel.com