Acterna at SuperComm 2004: Tools Driving Results, Solutions That Improve Your Bottom Line.

GERMANTOWN, Md. & CHICAGO -- Company's New Offerings Support Customer Deployment of DSL, GigaBit Ethernet, FTTx, and VoIP, Among Others

At SuperComm 2004 in Chicago, Acterna will showcase its position as the largest provider of communications test solutions for telecommunications and cable network operators by announcing several new innovations underscoring one central theme: Acterna provides the tools that drive results and solutions that improve your bottom line.

Leveraging its long heritage of communications test industry leadership, Acterna's SuperComm 2004 theme reflects its strategic focus on helping its customers rapidly deploy new services and technologies - such as VoIP, gigabit Ethernet, DSL, FTTx and next generation IP networks - as well as reduce network operating expenses, improve quality and lower customer churn.

Acterna's product introductions at SuperComm 2004 include:

--First-of-Kind VoIP Solution: Acterna's Voice over IP (VoIP) Solution is the industry's only integrated VoIP test and management solution for service providers and cable operators. Enabling field technicians to coordinate their troubleshooting with experienced/higher tiered technicians at a central location by using the Acterna HST-3000 (Acterna DSAM for cable operators), the Acterna DA-3400 or DA-3600A, and the Acterna PVA-1000, this solution dramatically reducing the overall time to resolve VoIP deployment problems.

--FIREBERD 8000: The FIREBERD 8000 is the next generation of Acterna's FIREBERD family of testers. Combining the success of two highly successful test platforms -- the Acterna FIREBERD 6000A and the Acterna TestPad -- the FB-8000 is the only tester on the market that meets United States military performance specifications (MILSTD) MIL-188C and MIL-188-114. It is also the industry's only tester that combines the abilities of conditioned diphase testing, clocking up to 18Mbps, and DTE and DCE emulation on native datacom interfaces.

--T-BERD 8000 and MTS-8000 modules: The latest additions (four new modules) to the Acterna T-BERD 8000 and MTS-8000 field optical tester line provide new capabilities for OTDR tests, PMD measurements, full spectrum OSA for CWDM and DWDM systems, and all-in-one connection checks. Enhancements to the Acterna T-BERD/MTS-8000 tester were based on extensive input gathered from field technicians, service carriers and equipment manufacturers worldwide.

--FST-2802 adds Layer 3 capability: Acterna has added support for testing IP services and fiber channel flow control to the existing FST-2802 features portfolio, enabling users to qualify and provision both Layer 2 and Layer 3 service offerings with one tool. By combining Ethernet, IP and fiber channel testing capabilities, the Acterna FST-2802 is the only industry test tool that features rich and broad testing capabilities in one package.

--OFI-2000 adds FTTx capability: A new addition to the Acterna OFI-2000 family of handheld bi-directional loss test sets, the Acterna OFI-2041 extends the coverage of test solutions for telecom and Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) networks to FTTx (Fiber-to-the-X). The OFI family provides test solutions that fully characterize the suitability of fiber used to transport telecom wavelengths and transport Passive Optical Network (PON) wavelengths for FTTx networks, as well as simultaneously test all channels in CWDM systems.

--HST-3000 adds datacom and frame features: The Acterna HST-3000 adds datacom and frame relay test functions to its portfolio, enabling users to quickly and economically commission, troubleshoot, and maintain datacom circuits and Frame Relay services. Combined, they help field technicians to identify and sectionalize network and equipment problems.

--Comprehensive Application System (CAS)-2000: The CAS-2000 is a compact high density single shelf test system and controller/remote test unit designed to offer a low cost solution for edge-based digital signal 1 (DS1) remote testing of smaller metro applications. It allows service providers to effectively manage the testing of these evolving metro edge applications remotely, at small closet Points of Presence (PoPs) or co-location cages.

--Education Course Flows training programs for VoIP and On-site Calibration: Acterna's Education Course Flows help prepare, educate and train network operators focused on advanced new services, such as voice over IP (VoIP), providing experienced instruction on how to accelerate deployment of new services, increase reliability and ensure quality. The Global Services Division will also showcase its On-Site Calibration Service's ability to efficiently calibrate test equipment to industry standards.

Note to editors: For digital images of Acterna's featured products at SuperComm 2004, please log on to ftp://GlobalComm:[e-mail]/SuperCommphotos/

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.