[0] Spirent's New System Delivers Highest-Density Performance Testing For Telephony Networks.

Business/High-Tech Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2001

Spirent Communications (Booth No. 752) today announced the release of Abacus2(TM), the latest in its product line for voice testing.

Built on the strengths of its predecessor, the Abacus test system, Abacus2 offers service providers and communications equipment manufacturers a powerful solution for bulk call generation and switch simulation. To meet the demands of innovation and increased traffic, Abacus2 provides the large capacity and performance needed -- within a single test system -- for manufacturers of next generation voice products.

Spirent's Abacus2 lends a high standard of reliability to phone systems, voicemails, Voice over IP systems, gateways, modems and routers. The system ensures the origination and termination of multiple calls and various call types, all in the form of a high-speed, compact test platform. Abacus2 measures the quality and rate of calls for voice, fax, and modems. In addition, each call is tested for a minimal acknowledgment delay, a bi-directional speech or data path, presence of call progress tones, and compatible signaling.

"Abacus2 has been developed to solve the needs of many of our customers who are building products that handle large amounts of voice, fax, and data traffic," said Iain Milnes, president of Spirent Communications, Zarak Systems Division. "Spirent leveraged its knowledge of building voice testing systems, and derived a phenomenal platform. No other single test system can equal the capacity, density, and performance offered by Abacus2."

Abacus2 can generate more than 10,000 simultaneous calls, with a traffic rate exceeding 10 million calls per hour. It also switches more than 10,000 channels simultaneously to exceed most in-line switches today with architecture that offers the highest density of test ports in the industry. Users can fit 16 DS3s within 26 inches of a 19-inch equipment rack. An external PC running the Abacus user-interface software controls the Abacus2 hardware.

"Bulk call generators and switch simulation are integral parts of the test process for network equipment manufacturers and service providers," said Michael Allen of Aberdeen Group. "Spirent Communications offers a robust mix of product capabilities in Abacus2 that builds on their previous products. It will add the type of density and flexibility that makes testing much more efficient and should bring cost savings to the test process."

Abacus2 will be introduced at Supercomm 2001 and demonstrated on booth No. 752. The initial release has GR-303 and Channel Associated Signaling (CAS) on T1 and E1. Subsequent releases this year will include support for T3, E3, SS7, V5, ISDN PRA, and analog. Future enhancements include protocols for IP telephony, including H.323 and SIP.

About Spirent Communications

Spirent Communications unites the best in performance analysis technology with network operations expertise. The company's award-winning products and solutions enable customers to accelerate the development, deployment and assurance of next-generation network equipment and services worldwide.

Spirent Communications designs and manufactures Adtech, DLS, Edgcumbe, GSS, Hekimian, Net-HOPPER, SmartBits, TAS and Zarak products. More than 2,500 of the world's leading network and terminal equipment manufacturers, network service providers, corporate enterprises and test laboratories rely on Spirent's first-to-market products to verify and measure the performance and services of networks and communications devices. For more information on Spirent Communications or its products, visit the Web site at www.spirentcom.com or call 800/927-2660.

Spirent plc is the parent of Spirent Communications. Spirent plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange, ticker SPT. The company operates a Level 1 American Depository Receipt program (ticker: SPNUY; CUSIP number: 84856M100). For information, contact Brian Heston, The Bank of New York, American Depository Receipts, 101 Barclay St, 22 West, New York, N.Y. 10286, phone [phone], fax [phone], e-mail: -- [e-mail], www.adrbny.com. Further information about Spirent plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks of Spirent plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are held by their respective companies. All rights reserved.