Verizon Wireless has selected Nortel to take broadband network to the next level.

Nortel will supply CDMA 1xEV-DO Revision A technology beginning in the third quarter of 2006. This upgrade will provide data speeds significantly faster than current capabilities and meet customer demand for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video telephony or advanced multimedia applications.

Verizon Wireless is currently trialing new, low-latency applications with Nortel EV-DO Rev. A technology, including push-to-talk, fixed mobile convergence, VoIP and messaging services.

“Successful trials of EV-DO Rev. A have demonstrated the technology’s potential for taking the Verizon Wireless broadband experience to new heights,” said Ed Salas, vice president of network planning, Verizon Wireless. “We look forward to continuing to bring new services to the market based on our enhanced network capabilities.”

EV-DO Rev. A allows Verizon Wireless to provide higher network transmission speeds with lower latency. Nortel’s EV-DO Rev. A solution is capable of providing peak data rates of up to 3.1 Mbps on the forward link (information flowing from the cellular base station to the subscriber) and up to 1.8 Mbps on the reverse link.

Nortel has been a key supplier to Verizon Wireless’ nationwide network for over a decade. Nortel was the primary infrastructure supplier in San Diego for Verizon Wireless’ initial commercial deployment of BroadbandAccess, which leverages EV-DO Revision 0 technology, in October 2003.