Ahead Communications Introduces Multi-Service WAN Xedge6000 Switching Platform.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

MIDDLEBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 22, 2001

Ahead Communications Systems announced today that it has introduced its Xedge6000(TM) multiservice WAN switch family, formerly known as the GDC APEX(TM) multiservice switch.

Extensively deployed in major service provider and mission critical private networks worldwide, the Xedge switch facilitates the convergence of voice, video and data service applications across packet-based broadband networks.

"The field proven Xedge platform allows service providers to reduce costs and implement a variety of revenue bearing services such as packet telephony for mobile networks, video-conferencing, DSLAM/SHDSL service aggregation, and TDM to packet based migration," said Rob Thornton, Vice President of Marketing of Ahead Communications Systems. "The platform also fills mission critical multiservice networking needs for vertical markets in transportation, utilities, oil services, and government."

The Xedge family is a:

-- Concentrator and a switch offering customers an efficient, scaleable platform used in some of the world's most complex and demanding environments

-- Highly reliable platform meeting stringent environmental requirements

-- Standards based platform with the highest port density for low speed circuit emulation interfaces

-- Packet voice switch with an ITU/ATM Forum compliant packet telephony engine

-- True multiservice switch with the widest range of adaptation interfaces available on a single switching platform including packet voice, private line support, and MPEG2 video compression 

-- Superior traffic management solution with an industry leading QoS implementation scheme for wide area edge traffic

The Xedge family offers a scaleable business solution: all Xedge shelves use the same service modules, giving network planners and managers a cost-effective and revenue-enhancing toolset. The scaleable Xedge 6000 switch family is comprised of:

-- Xedge 6645-: Tailored to meet the needs of public networks, the Xedge 6645 serves as an edge switch or backbone switch within a service provider's network.

-- Xedge 6640: Designed for large private networks, the 6640 provides ATM transport across local area, campus or wide area networks.

-- Xedge 6280: Developed as a carrier class edge switch with only one-third the footprint of the Xedge 6645, it provides the same advanced features, including fault-tolerance and network timing.

-- Xedge 6160: Utilized as an enterprise concentrator or switch, the unit can accommodate multiservice integration in customer premise or remote office locations.

The Xedge switch family offers comprehensive element management with ProSphere(TM), a standards-based management system for the Xedge network provisioning and monitoring. With ProSphere network administrators have robust performance, fault, configuration, security, traffic, inventory and accounting management capabilities.

Ahead Communications provides total engineering support for Xedge switching solutions to assist customers in planning and implementing packet service networks.

"What really distinguishes the Xedge platform is not only its extensive list of features and benefits, but also the network design knowledge and support behind the Xedge switch family," said Bill Abraham, Vice President of Sales North America for Ahead Communications Systems, Inc. "We have delivered and supported some of the most complex packet networks in the world, and we have made our customers happy by making network operation cost effective, manageable, and profitable."

More than 3500 Xedge switches serve multiservice networking needs for customers worldwide.

About Ahead Communications Systems

Ahead Communications Systems is a leading edge, international telecommunications supplier, delivering broadband packet switching and multi-service access solutions to customers in over 70 countries worldwide. AheadCom's product suite provides intelligent network "SPANS" that bridge the gap between the network edge and the customer premise while ensuring compatibility with legacy networks.

It is these network "SPANS" which allow for optimization of the core network -reducing costs while maximizing efficiency for telecom providers and large enterprises. Ahead Communications is based in Vienna, Austria, and is a member of the DSL Forum, ETSI, and the SHDSL Interoperability Lab Consortium (UNH).

Created through a spin-off of Ericsson's DSL Competence Center in 1999, AheadCom currently has 250+ employees and more than 300,000 systems deployed worldwide.

http://www.aheadcom.com