Acterna Releases Industry's First Handheld Tester for Timing Problems in SONET Networks; Acterna Enhances FST-2310 SONET Field Test Set with DS1 and DS3 Jitter Test Feature.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 2004

Acterna, the largest provider of test and management solutions to telecommunications network operators, today announced enhancements to its handheld FST-2310 SONET field test set by adding DS1 and DS3 jitter test functionality. The first of its kind to integrate DS1/DS3 jitter testing into a SONET and PDH handheld tester, the FST-2310 is used for the installation, maintenance, upgrade and troubleshooting of SONET networks.

Timing problems in SONET networks cause degradation of network quality parameters which may not be evident until days or weeks following the installation and are often hard to troubleshoot. DS1/DS3 jitter testing detects those timing problems and provides assurance that critical network performance parameters are met. Unlike many other jitter test alternatives, Acterna's FST-2310 jitter test function is offered as an add-on option for the widely-deployed Acterna TestPad FST-2310, making it significantly cost-effective. In addition, the jitter results are simultaneously available with DS1/3 bit-error-rate testing, eliminating the need for specialized test configurations and without increasing test time. With the added DS1/DS3 jitter test function and a broad range of existing test applications, the FST-2310 remains the most powerful handheld SONET field test platform in the industry.

"Our customers demand cost-effective ways to help them troubleshoot and deploy SONET, and the TestPad FST-2310 with DS1 and DS3 jitter test capability delivers using a platform they already possess," said Jerry Gentile, general manager for Acterna's telecommunication field services division. "The FST-2310 extends our long history of success with Acterna's TBERD(TM) brand. We will continue to drive innovative enhancements as customer needs evolve, ensuring that they continue to benefit from the best end-to-end SONET and PDH tester in the field."

Additional highlights of the FST-2310 include: the industry's easiest-to-use graphical user interface (GUI), the field test industry's most durable mechanical assembly, and enhanced connectivity features, including a remote GUI and Web browser.

The FST-2310 operates on the TestPad platform, which was launched as the industry's first handheld, battery operated, integrated test set, and is widely used by service providers and equipment manufacturers for provisioning and maintaining voice and data networks. With over 12,000 units deployed in the field, the FST-2310 is the single most deployed handheld SONET tester in the industry.

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.