nTelos Selects Alcatel-Lucent to Expand and Upgrade High-Speed Wireless Broadband Network

WAYNESBORO, Va. and PARIS, April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NTELOS Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: NTLS), a Virginia-based integrated telecommunications provider serving customers in the mid-Atlantic region, has selected Alcatel-Lucent to expand and upgrade its existing wireless broadband network in Hagerstown, MD.  nTelos Wireless received funding for this project under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Service (RUS) broadband stimulus program.

Alcatel-Lucent is providing a high-speed wireless broadband solution using EV-DO Revision A (Rev. A) technology, a high performance IP mobile backhaul network and a comprehensive set of professional services that will enable nTelos customers to take full advantage of high-speed wireless broadband services and applications enabled by the expanding availability and penetration of Smartphone devices. 

"Our Hagerstown customers will experience faster upload and download speeds, and new high-speed mobile data services including video telephony, high-quality music and other multimedia applications," said Bobby McAvoy, Senior Vice President, Wireless Engineering & Operations for nTelos Wireless.  "We are particularly excited about the RUS broadband stimulus funding and the fact that this project will create local jobs and help drive economic development in the community."

Alcatel-Lucent has been the exclusive provider of CDMA technology throughout nTelos' markets in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and North Carolina since 2007.

"Expanding EV-DO technology to nTelos Wireless customers further strengthens our existing relationship and reinforces our commitment to helping our customers meet the high-speed wireless broadband needs of communities across the country," said Sandy Motley, Vice President of Sales for Major Wireless Accounts.  

Alcatel-Lucent will provide its industry leading IP/MPLS solution, which includes the Alcatel-Lucent 7750 Service Router and 7450 Ethernet Service Switch, to deploy an IP routing and IP backhaul solution. As part of this solution, Alcatel-Lucent will be providing a comprehensive set of professional services including engineering, installation, integration, and project management.

Alcatel-Lucent is the global leader in CDMA - supplying CDMA solutions to more than 70 customers worldwide and supporting the top five global operators. Offering the best wireless technology and the best IP technology in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is best positioned to bring wireless and IP together and transform its customer's networks.

CDMA2000 is a registered trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association.

About nTelos

nTelos Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: NTLS) is an integrated communications provider with headquarters in Waynesboro, VA. nTelos provides products and services to customers in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Maryland and North Carolina, including nationwide wireless voice and data services, local and long distance telephone, high capacity transport, networking and high-speed Broadband data services and IPTV-based video products. Detailed information about nTelos is available at www.ntelos.com.

About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris andNYSE : ALU)

The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises, strategic industries and governments around the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leader in mobile, fixed, IP and Optics technologies, and a pioneer in applications and services. Alcatel-Lucent includes Bell Labs, one of the world's foremost centres of research and innovation in communications technology. With operations in more than 130 countries and one of the most experienced global services organizations in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The Company achieved revenues of Euro 16 billion in 2010 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.

For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com, read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow the Company on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.

SOURCE Alcatel-Lucent