ADTRAN Ships Tracer for Wireless T1 Transmission; Ideal for PCS, International and Other Fast-Growing Wireless Markets, Tracer Delivers High-Speed Connectivity at a Market-Leading Price.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 1998--ADTRAN, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTN) (www.adtran.com), a leader in transmission products for high-speed digital communications, announced the initial shipment of the Tracer Digital Spread Spectrum Radio, its new license-free wireless T1 transmission system. Operating at 2.4 GHz, Tracer is the industry's most cost-effective dual T1 wireless system.

Utilizing military-proven spread-spectrum technology, Tracer delivers two T1s, providing point-to-point wireless connections of up to 30 miles. Tracer operates in the FCC's unlicensed 2.4 to 2.4835 Ghz ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) band, so it can be quickly installed without time-consuming and expensive frequency coordination.

Designed for cellular, PCS service providers, or private networks needing a cost-effective way to link cell towers to mobile switching centers, Tracer is ideal for the rapidly growing wireless communications market. It is a creative solution for point-to-point, high-speed connections for voice, data or video applications in an office complex or campus environment. Additionally, it is well suited for other applications such as emergency/disaster recovery, special events broadcasting, or voice/data infrastructure for utility, public safety and public service companies.

"The Tracer Wireless 2xT1 System represents another innovative, cost-effective telco solution from ADTRAN," said Dan Pritchett, ADTRAN's director of sales and marketing for wireless products. "With Tracer, we're delivering a license-free microwave radio system that provides the capacity of two T1s at a price comparable to single T1 wireless systems."

Among the early users of the new system is one of the nation's largest electric utilities, Atlanta-based Southern Company, which is currently building out an Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR) network to serve business customers in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. Southern Company successfully installed pre-production Tracer units as high-capacity replacements for an existing T1 system used in the ESMR network.

Tracer's Radio Frequency Converter (RFC) can be rack-mounted or mast-mounted up to 350 feet from the Baseband Processor, using a single RG-8 coax cable. All signaling and power functions are provided over the coax connection. Mast-mounting decreases signal loss, boosting radio performance. A smaller, more flexible and less expensive coax can be used instead of the higher-priced, semi-rigid coax cable required by a rack-mounted solution. The Baseband Processor is housed in a 1U, 19-inch, six-pound package that is suitable for rack or table-top installation.

Tracer transports two T1 digital signals in any framing or line code format and provides two industry-standard DS1 or DSX-1 interfaces. A separate maintenance channel is embedded in the Tracer datastream, providing far-end configuration, monitoring and control functions without affecting T1 performance.

The Tracer system is "frequency-agile," allowing one of two channel plans to be selected. To provide additional interference protection, 10 spreading codes are available. Tracer also can perform local and remote T1 loopback tests. All test, status and configuration information is accessible via a menu-driven terminal interface or via Tracer's front panel controls.

Established in 1985, ADTRAN is a leading provider of total system solutions for delivering today's digital transmission technologies over existing telecommunications infrastructures. The company is best-known for developing cost-effective, high-performance equipment that transforms copper wire local loops into high-speed digital networks. The ISO 9001 company is a top supplier of DDS, ISDN, Frame Relay, T1/FT1 and HDSL products. ADTRAN customers include the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) and many of the more than 1,300 independent Telcos in the United States. ADTRAN also designs and manufactures products for private end-users in the customer premise equipment (CPE) market. For more information, contact the company at 1 [phone] or via email at [e-mail]. On the web, go to www.adtran.com.

CONTACT: Baron, McDonald & Wells

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919/468-1923 (fax), [e-mail]

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ADTRAN

Stacy Thomas, 205/963-8488 (voice), 205/963-7916 (fax),

[e-mail]

http://www.adtran.com