<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072911</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORTEL NETWORKS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001234080</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GIAMATTEO JOHN JOSEPH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>8200 DIXIE DRIVE ROAD, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRAMPTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>L6T 5P6</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
        <officerTitle>President, Asia Pacific</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Shares</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-28</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>87825</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>126425</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Shares</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-29</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>62175</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>2.92</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>126425</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Investment Fund Units</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>31730.58</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>106536.29</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Investment Fund Units</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>3635.93</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>12207.72</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>

            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>Held by spouse, Stephanie Sfiroudis</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>01/29/98 Grant of Options (8,000 options outstanding)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>11.29</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2008-01-28</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>8000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>8000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>03/31/99 Grant of Options (6,000 options outstanding)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>15.64</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2009-03-30</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>6000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>6000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>09/23/99 Grant of Options (4,000 options outstanding)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>23.9700</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2009-09-22</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>4000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>4000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>01/29/02 Grant of Options (2,666 options outstanding)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>7.1600</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2009-12-15</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>2666</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2666</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>01/29/02 Grant of Options (13,333 options outstanding)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>7.1600</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-01-26</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>13333</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>13333</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>01/29/02 Grant of Options (3,333 options outstanding)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>7.1600</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-06-08</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>3333</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>3333</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>01/29/02 Grant of Options (13,333 options outstanding)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>7.16</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-07-26</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>13333</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>13333</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>01/29/02 Grant of Options (13,333 options outstanding)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>7.1600</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F7"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2011-01-24</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>13333</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>13333</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>02/28/02 Grant of Options (100,000 options outstanding)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>5.1500</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F8"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2012-02-27</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>100000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>100000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>
    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Common shares of Nortel Networks Corporation ("NNC") delivered to the participant pursuant to Nortel Networks Limited Restricted Stock Unit Plan as amended (the "RSU Plan") in settlement of restricted stock units. Each restricted stock unit entitled the holder to receive one NNC common share. The cash equivalent of 62,175 common shares of NNC valued at $2.92 U.S. per share was withheld by Nortel Networks Limited to meet certain tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">106,536.29 company stock fund units are held in the participant's account as a result of the participant's contributions, vested company contributions and/or investment earnings thereon invested in the company stock fund (the "Stock Fund") pursuant to the Nortel Networks Long-Term Investment Plan (the "U.S. Investment Plan") as of July 25, 2003. The Stock Fund invests primarily in NNC common shares. As of July 25, 2003, the participant's company stock fund units represent approximately 31,730.58 common shares of NNC. The U.S. Investment Plan is administered as a unitized fund by Hewitt Associates Inc. and the number of shares represented by each unit fluctuates on a daily basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">12,207.72 company stock fund units are held by a member of Mr. Giamatteo's immediate family residing in his household as a result of contributions, vested company contributions and/or investment earnings thereon invested in the company stock fund (the "Stock Fund") pursuant to the Nortel Networks Long-Term Investment Plan (the "U.S. Investment Plan") as of July 25, 2003. The Stock Fund invests primarily in Nortel Networks Corporation common shares. As of July 25, 2003, the company stock fund units represents approximately 3,635.93 in equivalent common shares of Nortel Networks Corporation. The U.S. Investment Plan is administered as a unitized fund by Bankers Trust Service Network and the number of shares represented by each unit fluctuates on a daily basis. Mr. Giamatteo disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The reported options were granted pursuant to the Nortel Networks Corporation 1986 Stock Option Plan As Amended and Restated (the "1986 Stock Option Plan").</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The reported options were granted pursuant to the Nortel Networks Corporation 2000 Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The reported options are currently vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The reported options are currently vested as to 8,888 NNC common shares and will vest as to the remaining 4,445 NNC common shares on January 25, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">The reported options are currently vested as to 33,333 NNC common shares and will vest as to 33,333 NNC common shares on February 28, 2004 and as to 33,334 NNC common shares on February 28, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tracy S.J. Connelly, Attorney for John Joseph Giamatteo</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

