Verizon Wireless and Alcatel-Lucent announced a three-year agreement worth an expected $6 billion for Alcatel-Lucent to supply a wide variety of network equipment, software and services supporting Verizon Wireless' ongoing network expansion and continuous improvements. With this agreement Alcatel-Lucent continues to be Verizon Wireless' primary network infrastructure supplier.

"This agreement underscores Verizon Wireless' commitment to quality and to further enhancing the industry-leading multimedia and data services that its customers already enjoy," said Cindy Christy, president of Alcatel-Lucent's North America business. "We are proud of the confidence Verizon Wireless has in our abilities and our comprehensive and extensive portfolio of products, solutions and services."

The equipment, software and services from Alcatel-Lucent will make it possible for Verizon Wireless to further increase the coverage and capacity of its BroadbandAccess data network based on CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A technology and introduce new A-IMS services including Voice over IP (VoIP), push-to-x, mobile video telephony and more by deploying various components of Alcatel-Lucent's IMS solution. The deployment also will accommodate the Verizon Wireless approach to multi-vendor interoperability of these systems. In addition, the agreement calls for Alcatel-Lucent to enhance Verizon Wireless' existing CDMA2000 1X network.

"With strong support from Alcatel-Lucent, we at Verizon Wireless provide our customers with the highest quality and most advanced mobile network in the U.S. The $6 billion investment we're announcing today is indicative of our willingness to further separate us from our competitors in the marketplace," said Dick Lynch, chief technology officer and executive vice president of Verizon Wireless. "We will deliver value over fully interoperable IP-services that enhance the lifestyles of our customers - by offering multimedia services that combine voice, data, and video capabilities."