ADTRAN Next-Generation OC-3 Optical Multiplexer Increases DS3 Revenue Opportunities for Alert Service Providers.

Business Editors & Technology Writers

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2001

Total Access(R) OPTI-3(TM) Sets a New Mark

for Cost-Effective DS3 Deployment

ADTRAN(R) (NASDAQ:ADTN) today announced the Total Access OPTI-3, a new breed of OC-3 SONET multiplexer. An innovative piece of equipment offering significant price and performance advancements, the Total Access OPTI-3 delivers three DS3s in one-tenth the space of typical OC-3 multiplexers, and at less than one-half the price. This impressive ratio allows service providers to meet the rapidly increasing demand for DS3, despite the reality of today's constrained capital budgets. The Total Access OPTI-3, ADTRAN's first stand-alone, carrier-class optical offering, is the latest addition to its long history of cost-effective local loop access solutions.

"With tariffs that call for fiber delivery and reduced capital budgets, a simple, inexpensive solution for delivering DS3 service can open the door to significant revenue opportunities," comments Steven Locke, ADTRAN's vice president of Carrier Networks marketing. "ADTRAN is known for hitting the market at just the right time with extremely competitive, highly engineered gear. We think Total Access OPTI-3 is the next in this series of successful launches -- a solution that will significantly simplify and lower the cost of DS3 deployment for our carrier customers."

ADTRAN developed the Total Access OPTI-3 for service providers who need an efficient means of deploying fiber-fed DS3s. Unlike large, expensive add/drop multiplexers, this product provides the industry's smallest, most affordable, SONET-compliant OC-3 multiplexer for DS3 transport and delivery. The low-cost, plug-and-play Total Access OPTI-3 can be used in terminal mode applications, where cost and size are the main issues or in DS3 extension applications, where capacity utilization, extended range, and capital expenses are the carriers' chief concerns.

In the past, service providers deploying DS3 from an OC-3 terminal had to purchase large, expensive, fully-featured add/drop multiplexers, or inefficient single port DS3 products. Now, with Total Access OPTI-3, the service provider can deploy a full OC-3 bandwidth of DS3s providing three DS3 ports, in a one-rack unit high space, greatly increasing network efficiency.

The Total Access OPTI-3 is a carrier-class, fully SONET GR-253 compliant system. Combined with management over the Data Communications Channel (DCC) and interoperability with industry-standard SONET multiplexers, these characteristics make the Total Access OPTI-3 easy to deploy and support in existing networks. Reliability is enhanced with optional redundancy featuring 1:1 protection of the optical and electrical components and 1+1 SONET Automatic Protection Switching. The entire system is backed by an industry-leading ten-year warranty.

The Total Access OPTI-3 is shipping now with list prices starting at approximately $6,000.

About ADTRAN

ADTRAN, Inc. is an established supplier of advanced transmission products for today's expansive telecommunications networks. Widely deployed in carrier, CLEC, enterprise and global networks worldwide, ADTRAN products support all major digital technologies, including fiber, T3, T1, E1, wireless T1/E1, ATM, Frame Relay, VPN, SHDSL, SDSL, HDSL, HDSL2, ISDN, and DDS. According to Gartner/Dataquest and IDC, ADTRAN holds the leading market position in HDSL and enterprise integrated access devices, while maintaining its leadership position for the fourth year in a row in T1 and subrate CSU/DSUs, Frame Relay/DDS extension, and ISDN extension. ADTRAN equipment serves the major Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers, interexchange carriers, ISPs, Competitive Local Exchange Carriers, international service providers, public and private enterprises, and original equipment manufacturers.

For more information, contact the company at 800 9ADTRAN (800 923-8726) or via e-mail at [e-mail]. On the web, visit www.adtran.com.