3Com Backs Newly Ratified Gigabit Ethernet Over Copper Standard; 1000BASE-T Standard Supports High-Performance Networking Over Most Widely Installed Cabling in Businesses Today.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 1999--

3Com announced today that it is committed to fully support and provide interoperability across all implementations of 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, now a formally ratified standard by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). To the millions of Ethernet users worldwide, the majority of whom are 3Com customers, the newly ratified IEEE 1000BASE-T standard brings good news: Gigabit Ethernet will be compatible with Category 5 copper cabling, which comprises 80% of the cabling in buildings today.

As 3Com has stated previously stated, the company believes the standardization of 1000BASE-T technology is an important step in the widespread deployment of Gigabit Ethernet over today's existing cabling infrastructure. Because no new cabling infrastructure is required to deploy Gigabit Ethernet over Cat 5 UTP copper, 1000BASE-T will offer a tremendous cost savings to companies worldwide, while providing 10-fold the performance of copper-based Fast Ethernet.

"1000BASE-T will enable me to deploy Gigabit Ethernet over my existing Cat 5 copper cabling without any forklift upgrades to cabling infrastructure or installed Fast Ethernet equipment," said James Barry, chief information officer for Insurance Holdings of America (IHA). "It will also allow me to support applications that demand very high bandwidth to wiring closets and, in time, to desktops." Through advanced call center applications supported by a 3Com Corporation Gigabit Ethernet, Layer 3 switched LAN, IHA is revolutionizing the way insurance is sold to customers.

In addition, the implementation of Gigabit Ethernet over the copper infrastructure is critical to the convergence of voice, video and data networking, where high-bandwidth applications run from copper-based desktop and server connections. The IEEE estimates greater than 90 percent of today's Category 5 installations will support Gigabit Ethernet without upgrades or modifications, and tests are now available that network managers or cable consultants can use to certify their cabling installations for 1000BASE-T operation.

"The IEEE Ethernet workgroup has worked hard to ensure that the quality of Ethernet standards continue to give customers comfort in deploying Ethernet-based technologies," said Bruce Tolley, vice chair of the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance and business development manager for 3Com. "3Com has a 20 year track record of pioneering and bringing to market IEEE standards-based technologies to offer customers interoperable, cost-effective networking products. 3Com was the first company to ship a complete Gigabit Ethernet solution using 1000BASE-SX for the installed base of fiber cabling, and the company has been committed to this intensely focused 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet standards effort for the installed base of copper cabling."

About 3Com Corporation

With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people in more ways to information than any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to large, medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com. More connected.(TM) For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.

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