Acterna Ready to Meet the Challenge as Triple-Play Demands Make Their Way to the Core of the Network; Acterna ANT-40G, ONT Platforms Test at 40G - And Beyond.

GERMANTOWN, Md. & CHICAGO -- Acterna, the leader in test and management solutions for consumer and business broadband communications, today announced a comprehensive line of 40G communications test products for carriers and manufacturers dedicated to the delivery of efficient and reliable networks at the core. Designed for seamless operation in the lab as well as all stages of installation, maintenance and service verification, the Acterna ANT-40G and Acterna ONT line of products excel in the demanding, high bit-rate environments at the metro and long-haul levels - the core of the network. All products will be on display in Chicago this week at SuperComm 2005, booth 43021.

While 40G (OC-768), presently the fastest transmission rate for SONET and SDH networks, is still in the early adopter stage, core networks are supporting massive traffic increases resulting from widespread deployment of broadband access technologies. Network operators are also challenged by the need to reduce operating expenses while also adding new revenue generating services, some of which already require optical transport equipment that supports data rates higher than 10G.

"Consumer and business demand for broadband services have prompted operators to increase investment in technologies that expand the capacity of their networks," said Bernhard Mueller, general manager for Acterna's optical transport business unit. "While much of this recent investment has focused on the "last mile," we believe capacity burdens created by broadband service demand will grow in the next 12-24 months, creating widespread focus on upgrading the core network at the 40G level and beyond. Today, Acterna has a set of solutions to help network operators successfully respond to this challenge."

About the Acterna ANT-40 Advanced Network Tester

The Acterna ANT-40G is the newest member of the company's successful ANT line of testers. Like its predecessors, the ANT-40G is built on a flexible, Windows-based platform with an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI). The ANT-40G is a dedicated OC-768/STM-256 solution with complete SONET/SDH test capability for all forms of 40Gb/s signals. The ANT-40G is designed to help manufacturers reduce both technological and economical risk and to help network operators install, maintain and troubleshoot their backbone networks. With its flexible platform, the ANT-40G is designed to help manufacturers reduce both technological and economical risk as well as help network operators install, maintain and troubleshoot their backbone networks. This product is ideal for operators looking to upgrade their metro and long-haul core networks to 40G to more efficiently and effectively carry combined voice, video and data traffic.

About Acterna's Optical Network Tester (ONT) platform

The ONT platform is a multi-functional, multi-port and multi-user solution for fast and flexible testing of optical networks. The ONT is designed to address the optical and digital testing needs in R&D, system verification testing (SVT), production, installation and maintenance. There is a choice of ONT platforms covering rack-mountable and portable mainframes, and a range of plug-in instrument modules for testing DWDM, SDH, SONET, Jitter/Wander, OTN, EoS, and Ethernet networks controlled via an easy-to-use user interface. In addition, design, verification, integration and production test engineers of multi-service provisioning platforms (MSPPs), cross connects, ADMs and next generation network elements using the ONT have the ability to measure the performance of thousands of channels simultaneously, minimizing the performance risk associated with relying on a single test channel. This combination makes the Acterna ONT an exceptionally versatile and functional test resource for optical and physical layer tests, as well as performance testing. Designed to keep pace with the high-speed evolution of today's communications technology, the Acterna ONT is the essential test tool for manufacturers, installers and operators of optical networks.

About Acterna

Acterna is the world's largest provider of communications test solutions for telecommunications and cable network operators. A trusted communications test partner for more than eight decades, Acterna offers an unmatched portfolio of award-winning instruments, systems, software and services that help its customers reduce network costs while improving performance and reliability. Headquartered in Germantown, Maryland, USA - with European and Asia-Pacific operations based in Eningen, Germany and Hong Kong - Acterna serves nearly every major communications service provider and equipment manufacturer around the world through a skilled sales and support organization in 31 countries.

All Acterna company or product names mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of Acterna Inc. or one of its subsidiary companies.