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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                 October 9, 2002

                DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED)
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                              SONUS NETWORKS, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


                                                      
          DELAWARE                    000-30229                04-3387074
- ----------------------              ---------------         ------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
    of Incorporation                                         Identification No.)


                 5 CARLISLE ROAD, WESTFORD, MASSACHUSETTS 01886
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (978) 692-8999

              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

         A copy of Sonus' press release, dated October 9, 2002, reporting its
actual financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2002, is
attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

         The press release filed as an exhibit to this report includes "safe
harbor" language pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, as amended, indicating that certain statements about Sonus' business
contained in the press release are "forward-looking" rather than "historic." The
press release also states that these and other risks relating to Sonus' business
are set forth in the documents filed by Sonus with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

(c) EXHIBIT


    
99.1   Press release dated October 9, 2002 reporting Sonus' actual financial
       results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2002.




                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: October 10, 2002          SONUS NETWORKS, INC.
                                By:  /s/ Stephen J. Nill
                                    ------------------------------------------
                                    Stephen J. Nill
                                    Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of
                                    Finance and Administration and Treasurer
                                    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)