ADC and Harris Corporation Announce Interoperability to Facilitate Metallic Loop Qualification.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

CAMARILLO, Calif. and MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 31, 2000

The qualification of unbundled copper loops for DSL deployment is becoming a regular challenge for CLECs and ILECs alike. Harris Corporation, a worldwide supplier of communications equipment and ADC, a leading global supplier of network equipment, software, and integration services, have taken a big step toward alleviating this challenge, announcing today interoperability between ADC's Soneplex system and the Harris Test System which will allow for easy metallic loop testing from a common user interface.

ADC's Soneplex system, an intelligent T1 delivery platform, has long been used to deploy HiCaps over HDSL and the newer HDSL2 to business customers. As the leasing of unbundled copper has risen to new heights, so has the need to prequalify these loops for DSL deployment. Now, with a single command, Soneplex users can use a Harris Remote Test Unit to remotely verify the length of a copper loop from the equipment in a central office to the customer premises and test the loop to determine whether it meets the requirements for DSL service. After DSL services have been deployed, the Harris test equipment provides DSL circuit maintenance organizations the ability to proactively reassess the quality of the path to the subscriber on an on-going basis to identify potential quality impairments.

"The interoperability achievement between our two systems represents a huge benefit to our respective customers," said Michele Bishop, program manager for ADC's Wireline Systems Division. "Now that Harris' test head can communicate with Soneplex, pre-qualification of copper loops is a quick one-step process. ILECs and CLECs will save time and money since they can test the loop before they turn up service."

The achievement of interoperability with ADC underscores Harris' commitment to making testing solutions that are easy to integrate into its customer environments, whether in central offices, colocation cages or remote DLC installations. "With the rise in deployment of DSL services, testing of unbundled copper has become an absolute necessity," said Norm Elsasser, vice president of Harris Test Systems. "The alliance between ADC and Harris promises to make this task quick and easy to manage."

Both Harris and ADC will be expressing their views on this topic at Supercomm. To learn more, please visit session No. W46D, Testing and Performance Management, Wednesday, June 7th at 9:15 am, or visit ADC in booth No. 7439, or Harris in booth No. 2315, Hall C.

About ADC

ADC is The Broadband Company. ADC's network equipment, software and integration services make broadband communications a reality worldwide by enabling communications service providers to deliver high-speed Internet, data, video and voice services to homes and businesses. ADC (Nasdaq: ADCT) has annual sales of over $2.3 billion and employs more than 16,900 people worldwide. ADC's stock is included in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index. Learn more about ADC Telecommunications, Inc. at www.adc.com.

About Harris Corporation

Harris Communications Products Division (CPD), delivers solutions to public and private communications service providers around the world. CPD's solutions include line test and network management systems, as well as test sets and tools.

Harris Corporation is an international communications equipment company focused on providing product, system and service solutions that take its customers to the next level. The company provides a wide range of products and services for commercial and government communications markets such as wireless, broadcast, government systems and network support. The company has sales and service facilities in nearly 90 countries. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com.