N@N

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 23, 2009) - Nortel* Networks Corporation (OTCBB:NRTLQ) today announced that it, its principal operating subsidiary Nortel Networks Limited (NNL), and certain of its other subsidiaries, including Nortel Networks Inc. and Nortel Networks UK Limited (in administration), have entered into a "stalking horse" asset sale agreement with GENBAND, Inc. (GENBAND) for the sale of substantially all of the assets of its North America, Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) and Asia Carrier VoIP and Application Solutions (CVAS) business, and an asset sale agreement with GENBAND for the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) portion of its CVAS business for a purchase price of US$282 million, subject to balance sheet and other adjustments currently estimated at approximately US$100 million.

These agreements include the planned sale of substantially all assets of the CVAS business globally including softswitching, gateways and SIP applications. These agreements also include all patents and intellectual property that are predominantly used in the CVAS business.

GENBAND has teamed with one of its existing shareholders, One Equity Partners III, L.P. (OEP), to assist in financing the proposed purchase of Nortel's CVAS assets. OEP manages investments and commitments for JP Morgan Chase & Co. in private equity transactions.

Currently, subject to the terms of these agreements as well as any changes that may occur through the stalking horse and sale process, a significant majority of CVAS employees would have the opportunity to continue employment with GENBAND. This includes the employees assigned to the CVAS business in certain EMEA jurisdictions who would transfer to GENBAND by operation of law.

In early January, Nortel expects to seek U.S. and Canadian court approvals for bidding procedures, including a bid deadline and tentative auction date.

Commenting on the announcement, Samih Elhage, President of Nortel's CVAS business said:

"The proposed transaction represents a clear and positive step forward for Nortel's CVAS customers, employees, and business. Today's announcement is a strong endorsement of our continued leadership in the Carrier VoIP market where we have held the #1 position since 2002."

Elhage continued: "Nortel's industry-leadership in Carrier VoIP would not be possible without the continued commitment and support of our strong and loyal customer base of leading carriers across the globe. Throughout this process, Nortel will remain focused on providing our customers the highest level of service, support and responsiveness that they have come to expect from our team. Today's news is also a testament to our employees, whose commitment to innovation and customer support has ensured our growth in market share in 2009 despite a challenging economy."

Nortel is the recognized leader in the Carrier VoIP space, having shipped more than 118 million Carrier VoIP and Multimedia ports, including over 10 million SIP lines to leading wireline and wireless carriers globally. In addition, Nortel has secured business with 10 leading service providers since late 2008 and has gained more than 40 new Carrier VoIP customers since the beginning of 2009.

Details of Sale Process

Nortel will file the stalking horse asset sale agreement with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware along with a motion seeking the establishment of bidding procedures for an auction that allows other qualified bidders to submit higher or otherwise better offers, as required under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. A similar motion for the approval of the bidding procedures will be filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Following completion of the bidding process, final approval of the U.S. and Canadian courts will be required.

In relation to the EMEA entities to which they are appointed, the UK Joint Administrators have the authority, without further court approval, to enter into the EMEA asset sale agreement on behalf of those relevant Nortel entities. In some EMEA jurisdictions, this transaction is subject to information and consultation with employee representatives and/or employees.

In addition to the processes and approvals outlined above, consummation of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of regulatory and other conditions and the receipt of various approvals, including governmental approvals in Canada and the United States and the approval of the court in Israel. The agreements are also subject to purchase price adjustments under certain circumstances.

As previously announced, Nortel does not expect that the Company's common shareholders or the NNL preferred shareholders will receive any value from the creditor protection proceedings and expects that the proceedings will result in the cancellation of these equity interests.

About Nortel

For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at [ www.nortel.com ]. For the latest Nortel news, visit [ www.nortel.com/news ].

Certain statements in this press release may contain words such as "could", "expects", "may", "should", "will", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "targets", "plans", "envisions", "seeks" and other similar language and are considered forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities laws. These statements are based on Nortel's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the operating environment, economies and markets in which Nortel operates. These statements are subject to important assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and the actual outcome may be materially different. Nortel's assumptions, although considered reasonable by Nortel at the date of this press release, may prove to be inaccurate and consequently Nortel's actual results could differ materially from the expectations set out herein.

Actual results or events could differ materially from those contemplated in forward-looking statements as a result of the following: (i) risks and uncertainties relating to the Creditor Protection Proceedings including: (a) risks associated with Nortel's ability to: stabilize the business and maximize the value of Nortel's businesses; obtain required approvals and successfully consummate pending and future divestitures; ability to satisfy transition services agreement obligations in connection with divestiture of operations; successfully conclude ongoing discussions for the sale of Nortel's other assets or businesses; develop, obtain required approvals for, and implement a court approved plan; resolve ongoing issues with creditors and other third parties whose interests may differ from Nortel's; generate cash from operations and maintain adequate cash on hand in each of its jurisdictions to fund operations within the jurisdiction during the Creditor Protection Proceedings; access the EDC Facility given the current discretionary nature of the facility, or arrange for alternative funding; if necessary, arrange for sufficient debtor-in-possession or other financing; continue to have cash management arrangements and obtain any further required approvals from the Canadian Monitor, the U.K. Administrators, the French Administrator, the Israeli Administrators, the U.S. Creditors' Committee, or other third parties; raise capital to satisfy claims, including Nortel's ability to sell assets to satisfy claims against Nortel; maintain R&D investments; realize full or fair value for any assets or business that are divested; utilize net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes in the future; avoid the substantive consolidation of NNI's assets and liabilities with those of one or more other U.S. Debtors; attract and retain customers or avoid reduction in, or delay or suspension of, customer orders as a result of the uncertainty caused by the Creditor Protection Proceedings; maintain market share, as competitors move to capitalize on customer concerns; operate Nortel's business effectively under the new organizational structure, and in consultation with the Canadian Monitor, and the U.S. Creditors' Committee and work effectively with the U.K. Administrators, French Administrator and Israeli Administrators in their respective administration of the EMEA businesses subject to the Creditor Protection Proceedings; continue as a going concern; actively and adequately communicate on and respond to events, media and rumors associated with the Creditor Protection Proceedings that could adversely affect Nortel's relationships with customers, suppliers, partners and employees; retain and incentivize key employees and attract new employees as may be needed; retain, or if necessary, replace major suppliers on acceptable terms and avoid disruptions in Nortel's supply chain; maintain current relationships with reseller partners, joint venture partners and strategic alliance partners; obtain court orders or approvals with respect to motions filed from time to time; resolve claims made against Nortel in connection with the Creditor Protection Proceedings for amounts not exceeding Nortel's recorded liabilities subject to compromise; prevent third parties from obtaining court orders or approvals that are contrary to Nortel's interests; reject, repudiate or terminate contracts; and (b) risks and uncertainties associated with: limitations on actions against any Debtor during the Creditor Protection Proceedings; the values, if any, that will be prescribed pursuant to any court approved plan to outstanding Nortel securities and, in particular, that Nortel does not expect that any value will be prescribed to the NNC common shares or the NNL preferred shares in any such plan; the delisting of NNC common shares from the NYSE; and the delisting of NNC common shares and NNL preferred shares from the TSX; and (ii) risks and uncertainties relating to Nortel's business including: the sustained economic downturn and volatile market conditions and resulting negative impact on Nortel's business, results of operations and financial position and its ability to accurately forecast its results and cash position; cautious capital spending by customers as a result of factors including current economic uncertainties; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; any requirement to make larger contributions to defined benefit plans in the future; a high level of debt, arduous or restrictive terms and conditions related to accessing certain sources of funding; the sufficiency of workforce and cost reduction initiatives; any negative developments associated with Nortel's suppliers and contract manufacturers including Nortel's reliance on certain suppliers for key optical networking solutions components and on one supplier for most of its manufacturing and design functions; potential penalties, damages or cancelled customer contracts from failure to meet contractual obligations including delivery and installation deadlines and any defects or errors in Nortel's current or planned products; significant competition, competitive pricing practices, industry consolidation, rapidly changing technologies, evolving industry standards, frequent new product introductions and short product life cycles, and other trends and industry characteristics affecting the telecommunications industry; any material, adverse affects on Nortel's performance if its expectations regarding market demand for particular products prove to be wrong; potential higher operational and financial risks associated with Nortel's international operations; a failure to protect Nortel's intellectual property rights; any adverse legal judgments, fines, penalties or settlements related to any significant pending or future litigation actions; failure to maintain integrity of Nortel's information systems; changes in regulation of the Internet or other regulatory changes; and Nortel's potential inability to maintain an effective risk management strategy.

For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see Nortel's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other securities filings with the SEC. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Nortel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For the Companies listed below, The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales authorises A R Bloom, S Harris and C Hill to act as Insolvency Practitioners under section 390(2)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986 and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants authorises A M Hudson to act as an Insolvency Practitioner under section 390(2)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986.

The affairs, business and property of the Companies are being managed by the Joint Administrators, A R Bloom, S Harris, AM Hudson and C Hill who act as agents of the Companies only and without personal liability.

The affairs, business and property of Nortel Networks (Ireland) Limited are being managed by the Joint Administrators, A R Bloom and D Hughes, who act as agents of Nortel Networks (Ireland) Limited only and without personal liability.

The Companies are Nortel Networks UK Limited; Nortel Networks SA; Nortel GmbH; Nortel Networks France SAS; Nortel Networks NV; Nortel Networks SpA; Nortel Networks BV; Nortel Networks Polska SP Zoo; Nortel Networks Hispania SA; Nortel Networks (Austria) GmbH; Nortel Networks sro; Nortel Networks Engineering Service Kft; Nortel Networks Portugal SA; Nortel Networks Slovensko sro; Nortel Networks Oy; Nortel Networks Romania SRL; Nortel Networks AB; Nortel Networks International Finance & Holding BV

*Nortel, the Nortel logo and the Globemark are trademarks of Nortel Networks.