nTelos Wireless to launch 4G LTE services using Alcatel-Lucent technology in select markets in Virginia and West Virginia during 2013

WAYNESBORO, Va. and PARIS, March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- NTELOS Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: NTLS), a Virginia-based regional mobile operator in the United States, and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris andNYSE: ALU) today announced plans to provide improved wireless data speeds and quality of service across portions of the nTelos Wireless network. 

nTelos Wireless – which operates in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Kentucky, and North Carolina - plans to launch the Alcatel-Lucent-enabled 4G LTE services before the end of 2013 in select markets.

Key Facts:

• 4G/LTE will enable faster download speeds, streaming video, and support a host of other wireless high-speed revenue-generating applications.
• nTelos Wireless is deploying Alcatel-Lucent's 4G LTE solutions, including multi-technology base stations equipped with Remote Radio Head (RRH) technology, and much of Alcatel-Lucent's Evolved Packet Core infrastructure. Close to 200 existing CDMA 3G-1X base stations will be replaced with Alcatel-Lucent's CDMA 3G and EVDO Rev A base stations to provide high speed wireless data services in areas where it is not available today.
• Alcatel-Lucent is providing nTelos Wireless with a comprehensive set of professional services including engineering, installation, integration, and project management for both network upgrades. nTelos Wireless will also use our Remote Integration and Test Center (RITC) to speed time to market by delivering rapid LTE integration services.

Quotes:

Bobby McAvoy, Senior Vice President, Wireless Engineering and Operations for nTelos said: "Our customers expect both world class service as well as market-leading value.  By enabling the launch of 4G LTE service in select markets while upgrading the 3G CDMA experience for all of our customers, Alcatel-Lucent will allow us to fulfill those expectations both now and into the future." 

Charles Marsh, Vice President of North America Sales, Alcatel-Lucent said: "nTelos Wireless has established an enviable position as an industry leader in an extremely competitive market by delivering the level of service customers want at a reasonable price. Our solutions and considerable global deployment experience, backed by Bell Labs technology and innovations, will help nTelos deliver on its commitment on both its 4G LTE and 3G CDMA networks."

Additional Information:

• LTE Now Video: bit.ly/VUtAYI

About NTELOS

NTELOS Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: NTLS), operating through its subsidiaries as "nTelos Wireless," is headquartered in Waynesboro, VA, and provides high-speed, dependable nationwide voice and data coverage for over 430,000 retail subscribers based in Virginia, West Virginia and portions of Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky. The Company's licensed territories have a total population of approximately 8.1 million residents, of which its wireless network covers approximately 6.0 million residents. The Company is also the exclusive wholesale provider of wireless digital PCS services to Sprint Nextel in the Company's western Virginia and West Virginia service area for all Sprint CDMA wireless customers. Additional information about the Company is available at www.ntelos.com or www.facebook.com/nteloswireless and www.twitter.com/ntelos_wireless.

ABOUT ALCATEL-LUCENT (EURONEXT PARIS ANDNYSE: ALU)

The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments around the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leading innovator in the field of networking and communications technology, products and services. The company is home to Bell Labs, one of the world's foremost research centers, responsible for breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry.

Alcatel-Lucent innovations are regularly recognized by international institutions for their positive impact on society. In 2012 and for the second year running, Alcatel-Lucent was named one of the Thomson Reuters Top 100 Global Innovators, recognition for the company's continued addition to its world-class patent portfolio, one of the largest in the telecom industry. Alcatel-Lucent has also been recognized for its sustainability performance. In 2012 the company was ranked Technology Supersector Leader by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Through its innovations, Alcatel-Lucent is making communications more sustainable, more affordable and more accessible as we pursue our mission of Realizing the Potential of a Connected World.

With operations throughout the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The Company achieved revenues of Euro 14.4 billion in 2012 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