Acterna Debuts Gigabit Ethernet Interface for DTS-200 MPEG Field Instrument; New Capability Allows Detailed Analysis and Monitoring of MPEG-2 over IP Streams with Ease of Use.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

Cable-Tec Expo 2003

GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2003

Acterna, the world's leading provider of cable network test and management solutions, today announced the introduction of Gigabit Ethernet interface capability to the Acterna DTS-200 MPEG-2 field instrument.

The DTS-200's industry-leading ease-of-use and modular architecture was developed by Acterna to support compressed digital video network operators and MPEG-2 equipment manufacturers. With the new Gigabit Ethernet enhancement, the modular instrument continues to prove it can support a comprehensive range of test applications and a variety of signal interfaces.

"The new addition of the Gigabit Ethernet interface to the DTS-200 family of products provides today's users the important capabilities of both analyzing and monitoring MPEG-2 transport streams being transported via a Gigabit Ethernet network more and more in our industy," said Bill Robertson vice president of marketing for Acterna's Cable Networks division. "This new testing and monitoring feature drives critical benefits of cost-savings and efficiency as the growth of technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet become more commonplace with the rapid deployment of bandwidth intensive services such as Video On Demand (VOD) and HDTV." Added Robertson, "Operators must be in a position to earn lucrative revenue, and manage analog and digital signals to respond to trouble immediately -- that's what the DTS-200 is all about. The introduction of the Gigabit Ethernet interface is aimed at helping the network operators get yet another step closer to that goal."

On display at the SCTE Cable-Tec EXPO in Philadelphia, May 12-14, booth #1161, the DTS-200 is the most complete MPEG-2 field test tool available. It offers technicians the unique ability to capture, play and analyze MPEG-2 transport streams in the field, or remotely from the network operations center, to expedite trouble resolution.

An intuitive Web-based client enables technicians to analyze incoming streams, play out known streams, simulate a multiplexer or headend, as well as inject errors to test at the headend or hub. Further, its ability to be remotely controlled via a network allows experienced digital engineers to support multiple sites centrally for improved network reliability and increased cost savings.

Maintaining its tradition of ease-of-use and simplicity, the Gigabit Ethernet interface announced today provides the "Traffic Auto Detect" (TAD) function which allows the user to easily select a MPEG-2 transport stream from the list of all the streams present within a Gigabit Ethernet network.

This industry first feature negates the need for the user to know the explicit details of the stream they want to investigate as each stream in the Gigabit Ethernet network is clearly identified with all its source and destination information automatically.

The DTS-200 analyzer opens up the MPEG-2 stream, providing visibility to the multitude of program information tables as well as the ability to monitor data rates and bandwidths for each transport stream element. Operators who may have been unable to view the compressed digital video signals of their network can employ the DTS-200 to clearly see the contents of any section of the MPEG chain.

In addition to a stand-alone mode, the remote operation feature allows monitoring and analysis from any point on the network - from across the room or across the country. As a result, technicians can work from the lab or office rather than physically traveling to the trouble site.

About Acterna's Cable Network Products and Technologies

Acterna is the world's leading provider of integrated network test and management solutions for global cable networks. Acterna's cable networks portfolio enables cable operators to meet demand and enhance the reliability and performance of their networks and services.

Deployed around the world, Acterna's cable systems, software and instruments comprise the industry's broadest set of products that support cable operators through the network life cycle, from building the network to deploying and managing advanced services.

About Acterna

Acterna (OTCBB: ACTR) is the world's largest provider of test and management solutions for optical transport, access and cable networks, and the second largest communications test company overall.

Focused entirely on providing equipment, software, systems and services, Acterna helps customers develop, install, manufacture and maintain their optical transport, access, cable, data/IP and wireless networks. The company serves customers in more than 80 countries. Acterna is a subsidiary of Acterna Corporation. Information about Acterna can be found on the Web at www.acterna.com.

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