Verizon Hosts First-Ever Telecom Energy Summit Focused on Developing Energy-Efficient Network Equipment

BALTIMORE - Several of the nation’s leading telecommunications companies and equipment manufacturers are gathering at the Verizon facility here March 13 and 14 to investigate methods of measuring and reducing electrical power consumption in voice and data communication networks.

The companies have agreed to meet and work together to reinforce their commitment to reducing network power consumption as well as develop a framework - in conjunction with equipment manufacturers - under which network equipment can be evaluated using an energy-efficiency formula.

The inaugural Telecommunications Carrier Group Energy Summit will be held at Verizon’s St. Paul Place facility in Baltimore. The event is co-sponsored by AT&T, Qwest and Verizon.

“At the conclusion of the two days of meetings, we hope to have a good start on developing a type of energy-efficiency rating for switching/transport as well as data/video equipment,” said Mark Wegleitner, senior vice president and chief technology officer for Verizon. “We expect ratings such as these will ultimately be a factor in purchasing decisions made by telecommunications companies.”

In addition to the telecommunications companies, several equipment manufacturers have been invited to attend:

Sun Microsystems
Alcatel-Lucent
Tellabs
Motorola
Cisco
Nortel
Intel
IBM
Fujitsu
Degree C
AMD

At the conclusion of the event, an action plan will be developed for next steps, including future meetings. Attendees will also tour the Verizon switching office at the Baltimore facility to get a better idea of the environment in which telecommunications equipment is deployed.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving more than 59 million customers nationwide. Verizon’s Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 242,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.