AccessLan's Universal DSL Module Eliminates DSL Speed-Reach Trade-Offs with Per-Port Dynamic Selection of SDSL, IDSL, HDSL2, G.shdsl and up to 6 Mbps VDSL-Lite DSL Flavors.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2000

Leads the migration from SDSL and IDSL to Standards-based HDSL2

and G.shdsl while increasing speed of the copper loop by 400%+

and reach by 30%+

AccessLan Communications Inc., pioneer of i-SLAM and the leading supplier of DSLAM equipment for Voice-over-DSL, (VoDSL), today announced its plans to deliver a 24-port Universal DSL Line Module (ULM-24) and Universal DSL CPE Router (PL-220).

AccessLan's ULM-24 dramatically enhances speed and reach of DSL services while enabling service providers to program the individual ports on the ULM for SDSL, IDSL, HDSL2, and G.shdsl. The ULM could also be used to deliver VDSL-Lite, a symmetric service at speeds of up to 6 Mbps, an increase of as much as 400 percent over SDSL loops and as much as 4100 percent over IDSL loops.

AccessLan's break-through universal DSL portfolio is based on GlobeSpan's DSL chip-sets, combined with AccessLan-developed Universal DSL firmware, which provides the per-port selection of DSL flavors. AccessLan also announced a broad base of industry support for HDSL2 and G.shdsl interoperability and support for its VDSL-Lite solution by suppliers including ADTRAN, CopperCom, JetStream Communications, Larscom, Polycom, TollBridge Technologies, and Woodwind Communications Systems. (Note to Editors: Please see accompanying release on AccessLan's HDSL2 and G.shdsl Interoperability announcement).

"We are pleased to be working closely with AccessLan on the support and delivery of these new technologies, which extend market reach and enhance customer value," said Hans Schwarz, general manager of Polycom's Network Access Products line. "AccessLan's innovative efforts, combined with Polycom's CPE devices, will significantly advance the utilization of the DSL network for high bandwidth services like videoconferencing."

"We are pleased that AccessLan has incorporated GlobeSpan's multi-mode solution into their DSLAM equipment, said Angelo Stephano, vice president of worldwide marketing for Globespan," GlobeSpan offers the most scalable solution and provides the broadest interoperability as part of our commitment to providing added value to our customers.

ULM represents a significant departure from the current method of deploying separate DSL line cards for each flavor of DSL in the DSLAM. As a result, the ULM-24 provides enormous benefits to service providers including:

    Dramatic increase in speed and reach
    -- Increase of as much as 400% over SDSL speed and 4100%+ over
       IDSL speed
    -- Increase of as much as 30%-40% over the reach achievable with
       SDSL
    -- Increase of 100%+ over the area current served with SDSL

    Dramatic Cost Reductions:
    -- More than 50% in equipment costs through reduction in number
       of active and spare modules needed for the speed/reach
       continuum
    -- More than 67% in installation costs
    -- More than 67%+ in maintenance costs

The ULM-24 for AccessLan's PL-2000 C.O. i-SLAM will be available in 90 days and is priced at $14,995. The PL-220 Universal DSL Router will also be available in the same time frame and is priced at $695.

"AccessLan's ULM represents a huge asset to Network Plus as we broaden our footprint and our service and speed-range offerings," said Ed Fox, vice president of network planning for Network Plus. "Once deployed, the ULM will increase significantly both our revenue stream and margin by allowing us to rapidly move our customer-base to higher-speed services all the way up to 6 Mbps with a simple mouse-click, without DSLAM or CPE upgrades."

"AccessLan has established a series of firsts in enabling innovative services over DSL from the industry's first VoDSL deployment in 1999 to the recent launch of the industry's first IP-smart DSLAM, or i-SLAM," said Kumar Shah, vice president of marketing for AccessLan. "With the introduction of our ULM, AccessLan is once again leading the industry in the migration from single-service SDSL and IDSL proprietary solutions to HDSL2 and G.shdsl standards-based universal service, while pushing both speed and reach envelopes."

"As sophisticated streaming content, like Polycom's IP-based videoconferencing, increases as a percentage of overall traffic on the public network, the DSL industry will need to continually increase the speed of the DSL infrastructure," said Mike Pisterzi, AccessLan President and CEO. "AccessLan's ULM innovation enables service providers to stay ahead of the bandwidth demand curve without having to worry about expensive infrastructure upgrades. The ULM represents arguably the most significant breakthrough that the DSL industry has seen since the launch of SDSL back in 1997."

About AccessLan

AccessLan Communications, Inc., a pioneer of PacketLoop -- the next generation Local Loop -- and i-SLAM, is a leading supplier of carrier-class DSLAM equipment for Voice over DSL (VoDSL), Internet access and Internet-based services. The company targets Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) and Business Tenant Services (BTS) markets, with PL-2000 C.O. and PL-1000 stackable i-SLAMs that deliver VoDSL, Internet access and Internet services like e-commerce, web hosting, streaming audio and video. The company's Internet Scaling Architecture (ISA) and Priority-Q feature-set together deliver the industry's most comprehensive and scalable IP QoS management solution. Founded in 1997, AccessLan is financed by leading venture capital firms Sequoia Capital, Accel Partners, Berkeley International Capital, Highland Capital, Tudor Private Equity Fund, The Ignite Group, Intel Corporation and NIF Ventures. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California. For additional information, contact the company at (888) 411-4DSL or www.accesslan.com.

AccessLan and PacketLoop are trademarks of AccessLan Communications, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.