Baby Bell pushing 30 (new markets)

SBC moving into 30 new markets with $1 billion tech contract to Lucent

SBC Communications has selected Lucent Technologies as the primary provider of data, voice and access infrastructure technology for its national network expansion. The five-year agreement is expected to be valued at more than $1 billion.

The contract covers SBC's nationwide entry into 30 markets outside its traditional service areas and is the first time a former Bell operating company is competing for local business and residential customers on a national scale.

The equipment, software and services Lucent will provide under the agreement will create the advanced networking infrastructure that will enable SBC to offer its customers value-priced packages of voice and data services.