Alcatel-Lucent has signed an agreement with Nortel to acquire its UMTS radio access business (UTRAN) and related assets for US$320mn (€250mn). This agreement follows the Memorandum of Understanding Alcatel and Nortel signed on September 1, 2006. At the closing of the transaction, Alcatel-Lucent will acquire Nortel's UMTS radio access technology and product portfolio, associated patents and tangible assets as well as customer contracts. It will serve an additional sixteen UMTS customers around the world for a combined global footprint that amounts to one in four UMTS operators. Approximately 1,700 people will join Alcatel-Lucent, of which about 1,100 are R&D engineers, based mainly in France, Canada and China.

www.alcatel.com
www.nortel.com