Lucent Lands Nextel Contract

Struggling telecommunications equipment maker Lucent Technologies Inc. said it has been selected to supply high-capacity gateway switches for Nextel Communications Inc.’s digital wireless network. No financial details were released. Under the agreement, the first between the two companies, Lucent will deploy at least 10 5ESS Wireless Gateway switches for Nextel’s iDEN network, with installations expected to be completed by the end of this year, Lucent said. The new Lucent switches are interoperable with Nextel’s switching equipment and will increase calling capacity. The greater call capacity will enable Nextel, the largest independent U.S. wireless telecommunications services carrier, to defer incremental capital investments in new switches, said Limond Grindstaff, senior vice president of engineering for Nextel.