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Exhibit 99.1 (NORTEL LOGO) News Release
 www.nortel.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    
    March 15, 2005For more information:Media
Marion MacKenzie
(905) 863-1035
mackenm@nortel.com
    
    Investors
(888) 901-7286
(905) 863-6049
investor@nortel.com
 Nortel Announces New Waiver from Export Development Canada TORONTO  Nortel* Networks Corporation [NYSE/TSX: NT] today announced that its principal
operating subsidiary, Nortel Networks Limited (NNL), has obtained a new waiver from Export
Development Canada (EDC) of certain defaults and related breaches by NNL under its
performance-related support facility with EDC (the EDC Support Facility). NNLs prior waiver from
EDC under the EDC Support Facility, previously announced on February 15, 2005, was set to expire on
March 15, 2005. The new waiver from EDC will remain in effect until the earlier of certain events including:  

the date on which the Company and NNLs respective Q3 2004 Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q (the Third Quarter Reports) and 2004 Annual Reports on Form 10-K (the 2004 Annual
Reports) have been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC); or

April 30, 2005. If the Company and NNL fail to file the Third Quarter Reports and the 2004 Annual Reports
(collectively, the Reports) with the SEC by April 30, 2005, EDC will have the right (absent a
further waiver, the receipt or terms of which cannot be assured), to terminate the EDC Support
Facility, exercise certain rights against collateral or require NNL to cash collateralize all
existing support. In addition, the related breaches will not be cured by the filing of the Reports.
Accordingly, beginning on the earlier of the date upon which the Company and NNL file the Reports
with the SEC and April 30, 2005, EDC will have the right to terminate or suspend the EDC Support
Facility notwithstanding the filing of the Reports. While NNL intends to seek a permanent waiver
from EDC in connection with the related breaches, the receipt or terms of any such waiver cannot be
assured. The EDC Support Facility provides up to US$750 million in support, all presently on an uncommitted
basis. The US$300 million revolving small bond sub-facility of the EDC Support Facility will not
become committed support until all of the Reports are filed with the SEC and NNL obtains a
permanent waiver of the Related Breaches. As of March 14, 2005, there was approximately US$239
million of outstanding support utilized under the EDC Support Facility, approximately US$170
million of which was outstanding under the small bond sub-facility. ************************




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Page 2 About Nortel Nortel is a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities that enhance the human
experience, ignite and power global commerce, and secure and protect the worlds most critical
information. Serving both service provider and enterprise customers, Nortel delivers innovative
technology solutions encompassing end-to-end broadband, Voice over IP, multimedia services and
applications, and wireless broadband designed to help people solve the worlds greatest challenges.
Nortel does business in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at
www.nortel.com. For the latest Nortel news, visit
www.nortel.com/news. Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to
important risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ
materially from actual results or events. Factors which could cause results or events to differ
from current expectations include, among other things: the outcome of regulatory and criminal
investigations and civil litigation actions related to Nortels restatements and the impact any
resulting legal judgments, settlements, penalties and expenses could have on Nortels results of
operations, financial condition and liquidity; the findings of Nortels independent review and
implementation of recommended remedial measures; the outcome of the independent review with respect
to revenues for specific identified transactions, which review will have a particular emphasis on
the underlying conduct that led to the initial recognition of these revenues; the restatement or
revisions of Nortels previously announced or filed financial results and resulting negative
publicity; the existence of material weaknesses in Nortels internal controls over financial
reporting; the impact of Nortels and NNLs failure to timely file their financial statements and
related periodic reports, including breach of its support facility and public debt obligations and
Nortels inability to access its shelf registration statement filed with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); ongoing SEC reviews, which may result in changes to our
public filings; the potential delisting or suspension of Nortels and NNLs publicly traded
securities; the impact of management changes, including the termination for cause of Nortels
former CEO, CFO and Controller in April 2004; the sufficiency of Nortels restructuring activities,
including the work plan announced on August 19, 2004 as updated on September 30, 2004, including
the potential for higher actual costs to be incurred in connection with restructuring actions
compared to the estimated costs of such actions; cautious or reduced spending by Nortels
customers; fluctuations in Nortels operating results and general industry, economic and market
conditions and growth rates; fluctuations in Nortels cash flow, level of outstanding debt and
current debt ratings; Nortels ability to recruit and retain qualified employees; the use of cash
collateral to support Nortels normal course business activities; the dependence on Nortels
subsidiaries for funding; the impact of Nortels defined benefit plans and deferred tax assets on
results of operations and Nortels cash flow; the adverse resolution of class actions, litigation
in the ordinary course of business, intellectual property disputes and similar matters; Nortels
dependence on new product development and its ability to predict market demand for particular
products; Nortels ability to integrate the operations and technologies of acquired businesses in
an effective manner; the impact of rapid technological and market change; the impact of price and
product competition; barriers to international growth and global economic conditions, particularly
in emerging markets and including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact
of rationalization in the telecommunications industry; changes in regulation of the Internet; the
impact of the credit risks of Nortels customers and the impact of customer financing and
commitments; stock market volatility generally and as a result of acceleration of the settlement
date or early settlement, which is currently not available, of Nortels forward purchase contracts;
the impact of Nortels supply and outsourcing contracts that contain delivery and installation
provisions, which, if not met, could result in the payment of substantial penalties or liquidated
damages; and the fut
ure success of Nortels strategic alliances. For additional information with
respect to certain of these and other factors, see the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Nortel with the SEC. Unless otherwise required by applicable
securities laws, Nortel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. -end- *Nortel, the Nortel logo and the Globemark are trademarks of Nortel.