MILAN, Italy, May 23 -- Omnitel Vodafone has selected Nortel Networks to supply wireless Internet infrastructure equipment and services for its third generation (3G) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) in Italy.
    "Time-to-market is vital for success in the race for 3G Wireless Internet," said Vittorio Colao, CEO of Omnitel Vodafone. "We plan to launch commercial 3G wireless service within 2002. We are pleased to work with a leading 3G supplier like Nortel Networks, which has extensive experience and can help ensure best-in-class service delivery and achievement of our targets."
    Nortel Networks' equipment is based on its 'Wings of Light' strategy, which combines optical, wireless and IP (Internet Protocol) to help operators provide reliable, high-speed access to broadband Internet services.