Lucent Technologies and Novatel Wireless to Supply Telecom Italia Mobile With UMTS PC Cards to Support 3G High-Speed Data Services

CANNES, France, Feb. 23 -- Lucent Technologies LU and Novatel Wireless, Inc. NVTL today announced that they will provide Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) with their jointly developed third-generation (3G) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) PC modem cards.

These cards will enable TIM to offer enhanced high-speed mobile data services on the operator's 3G UMTS network in Italy, and also support connections on existing GPRS infrastructure. Targeted primarily at enterprise users, these cards will enable high-quality data connections, mobile access to e-mail with large attachments -- and other information stored behind corporate firewalls -- at data transmission speeds of up to 384 kilobits per second.

In addition to the Merlin U530 cards, Lucent and Novatel Wireless will supply TIM with the system software and services needed to support the commercial rollout of service to TIM's customers. Lucent Worldwide Services also will be providing installation and maintenance support for the commercial roll out.

By plugging the PC cards into a laptop and installing the necessary client software, end-users will be able to access TIM's UMTS network.

"TIM is one of the key European market leaders committed to the introduction of advanced wireless services," said David Poticny, president, Lucent Technologies Europe. "We are proud to support TIM in their effort to provide customers with 3G high-speed-data and multimedia services. The agreement signed by Lucent Technologies and TIM follows Lucent's joint UMTS pilot networks deployments with operators in Europe that have demonstrated the readiness of Lucent's UMTS offer and the benefits of 3G mobile high-speed data services for end users.

"Enterprises involved in the trials have said this technology increases employee productivity outside of the office and face-to-face time with customers," Poticny added.

Lucent and Novatel Wireless are demonstrating 3G UMTS services using the Merlin U530 cards and Lucent's end-to-end UMTS infrastructure in Lucent's booth (Booth A16, Hall 1) at the 3GSM World Congress 2004, taking place from Feb. 23 - 26 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.

ABOUT TIM

TIM (Telecom Italia Group) is the leading European operator in terms of the number of GSM lines on a single network and leader in the domestic market with 26.1 million lines as of December 31, 2003. The TIM Group with its associate companies in Europe, South America and in the Mediterranean basin has reached an overall number of 44.5 million lines. Further information on TIM can be found at www.tim.it.

ABOUT LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES

Lucent Technologies designs and delivers the systems, services and software that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent uses its strengths in mobility, optical, software, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for its customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Lucent's customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. For more information on Lucent Technologies, which has headquarters in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, visit www.lucent.com.

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a global leader in the design and development of wireless modems, software and custom engineering for use in mobile computing devices. Novatel Wireless Merlin PC Cards, Expedite Embedded Modems, and Freedom Box Ruggedized Modems enable high-speed wireless access to personal, corporate and public information via portable computers, handheld devices and vertical market applications. The company delivers innovative 2.5G and 3G solutions to operators, distributors and vertical markets worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on Nasdaq: NVTL.

The Novatel Wireless logo, Merlin, Merlin U530, Expedite, and Freedom Box, are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. All other brands, products and company names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders.

This release may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended to date. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward- looking statements contained herein. These factors include risks relating to technological changes, continued acceptance of Novatel Wireless' products and dependence on intellectual property rights. These factors, as well as other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, are discussed in more detail in Novatel Wireless' filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at www.sec.gov) and other regulatory agencies.