ASC Introduces the RBOX 4000 Multi-Service Aggregator.

VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 1999--

Extends Industry Leadership in T1/E1 Density and Affordability

Advanced Switching Communications, Inc. (ASC), today introduced the RBOX(tm) 4000 Multi-Service Aggregator for service providers and carriers to deploy voice, data, and video services from high-density Points of Presence (PoPs). To conserve expensive Central Office rack space, the RBOX 4000 has the industry's leading copper-access port density of up to 336 T1/E1 ports per chassis, allowing up to 1008 T1/E1 ports per standard seven-foot telco rack.

Mike Viren, chairman of Tampa, Florida-based CLEC, 2nd Century Communications said, "With the introduction of the new RBOX 4000, ASC has raised the bar significantly, letting service providers rethink their collocation strategy for PoPs. The same cards in the low-cost entry-level, single-card RBOX systems can also work as blades in large chassis RBOX version. PoPs can start very small, profitably, and grow incrementally. This approach brings enormous flexibility in how to design an access network."

Asghar Mostafa, ASC president and CEO said, "Driving out the cost of access over copper is a compelling need. Delivering multi-service access solutions to service providers at extremely low costs and high density is what ASC is all about."

The Fractal Systems Architecture

The 18-slot RBOX 4000 works in conjunction with ASC's system-on-a-card products, the RBOX 1000, 1240, and 2000, in various combinations. These single-card models can operate either stand-alone as entry-level systems in their own single-card chassis or as line cards in the RBOX 4000. Using these RBOX cards, the 14 RBOX 4000 access slots provide up to 336 T1/E1 ports or 56 T3/E3 ports; the four network trunk slots support up to 16 T3/E3 or OC3c ports. This fully distributed design, the Fractal Systems Architecture(tm), improves reliability over traditional products by replicating functions within each RBOX card to eliminate system-wide failure points. This approach allows for a comparatively low entry price and footprint, and also offers nearly linear price/performance characteristics as networks scale.

Chandan Sarkar, Telecom Analyst at the SoundView Technology Group, said, "We know of no other access device that packs as much functionality into a small a footprint, ideally suited for equipment-based resale, as ASC's RBOX platform."

To simplify network design and lower lifecycle costs, each port on these cards is individually software configurable for ATM, IMA, Frame Relay, TDM, or IP/PPP. Support for legacy TDM voice and data applications is provided via the RBOX 4000's implementation of standards-compliant ATM based Circuit Emulation Services (CES). The RBOX 4000 also supports high-density HDSL-2 applications to meet the demands for cost effective broadband access.

Like previous RBOX products, the RBOX 4000 is designed to meet NEBS level 3 and ETSI requirements for demanding Central Office environments.

Target Applications and Markets

RBOX 4000 is the Best-in-Class multi-service convergence platform and provides the ideal solution for:

-- Multi-Speed, Multi-Protocol Access Aggregator for High-Density PoP - RBOX 4000 combines fractional T1, Multi-T1 using IMA, and DS3 access with support of Frame Relay, ATM and TDM/CES for broad service deployment. PoPs using RBOX 4000 can support DSLAMs, customers using multi-function Integrated Access Devices to carry multiple services over ATM or Frame Relay, and ISPs.

-- Multi-T1 IMA Access Aggregator - RBOX 4000 supports up to 168 IMA groups to bridge the gap between T1 and DS3, providing broadband services to businesses requiring more than a single T1 service. IMA groups are the ideal scalable trunk for carrying traffic from ISPs.

-- High Density Legacy Applications Aggregator - Low Cost Access Concentrator of TDM traffic using Circuit Emulated Services (CES) to carry traffic PBX and SNA traffic.

-- Next Generation Network Convergence - The RBOX 4000 is ideally suited for the ATM-based local exchange carrier that aggressively markets a simple and cost-effective solution for voice data and video services to small and medium-sized businesses.

-- Eliminates need for M13 MUX and DACS within CLEC and ILEC networks.

Features for the Demanding Requirements for Next-Generation Access Networks

In addition to the reliability benefits of a fully-distributed architecture, RBOX 4000 high availability features include 1:N protection switching for access circuits and 1:1 redundancy for network trunks.

RBOX 4000 will offer innovative traffic engineering features to support Service Level Agreements. For example, Virtual-Port Connection Access Control (CAC) acts as a "proxy" CAC for downstream multiplexers or modem banks, which often lack the CAC function. This helps assure that a new setup request for a connection can be honored without impacting the committed Quality of Service (QoS) of any existing connection. Virtual Port Traffic Shaping minimizes cell loss by downstream network elements that have insufficient buffering capabilities. Connection Policy Management (CPM) will provide policy-based service definitions that are automatically enforced on connection setup. CPM protects the Service Provider's network from unauthorized access utilizing source address validation and support of inclusionary or exclusionary lists on source or destination addresses.

To ease the provisioning process, RBOX has a "plug-and-play" default ATM Virtual Path Cross Connect configuration. This allows users to install and send data over RBOX without any configuration steps. RBOX also supports standards-compliant Integrated Local Management Interface (ILMI) for ATM and Local Management Interface (LMI) for Frame Relay, which provides flow-through provisioning of service platforms at the service-customer facility.

All RBOX models are SNMP manageable with both standard and enterprise MIBs for easy incorporation into Network Management Systems. They can also be managed via an internal HTML interface with a standard web browser, an interactive Command Line Interface (CLI), and by downloading configuration files.

Pricing and Availability

The RBOX 4000 will be available in September 1999. Pricing for the RBOX 4000 Multiservice Access Concentrator starts under $11,000. This low initial cost combined with the innovative RBOX 1000 and RBOX 1240 presents a list price as low as $495 per T1/E1. Combined with the RBOX-2000, the list price per T3/E3 is under $4,000.

ASC will be demonstrating the RBOX 4000 at SUPERCOMM '99 in Atlanta June 8-10 in booth 951.

About ASC

Advanced Switching Communications is the winner of Telecommunications magazine's "Hot Pick Startups to Watch" for 1999, and both the "Top 25 Hot Startups" and "1999 Hot Products" awards recently cited by Data Communications magazine. ASC is a privately held communications-equipment company in Vienna, Virginia. ASC is headed by a management team from high-technology industry leaders including 3Com (Nasdaq: COMS), Ascend (Nasdaq: ASND), AT&T (NYSE:T), IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Lucent (Nasdaq: LU). ASC's web site is http://www.asc1.com.

RBOX and Fractal Systems Architecture are trademarks of Advanced Switching Communications, Inc.