Amati Communications Announces Success of First 8 Mbps ADSL DMT System in Trial with France Telecom; France Telecom Launches First Broadcast Video Service and Internet Mid-band Services at 8 Mbps with New Overture 8 ADSL DMT Modem Design.SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 1996--Amati Communications Corporation (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : AMTX), a leading developer of advanced transmission equipment utilizing Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT See DSL. ) technology for the Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (communications, protocol) Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line - (ADSL, or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Loop) A form of Digital Subscriber Line in which the bandwidth available for downstream connection is significantly larger then for upstream. (ADSL See DSL. ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line ), announced that the company is providing the ADSL/DMT interface in the world's first 8 Mbps video trial to deliver broadcast-quality television pictures over existing copper telephone lines. The service is part of a trial being conducted by France Telecom in Brittany. The Amati product is the first commercially available modem with an 8 Mbps video interface and is operating as part of the France Telecom trial network. "We are very excited to be part of such an important first-time high-speed application of ADSL for video service into the homes of France Telecom customers," said Jim Steenbergen, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Amati. "The excitement generated by the potential service, enabled in large part by Amati's ADSL/DMT technology, further reinforces our conviction that ADSL/DMT will be a key technology in the future of higher bandwidth signals over telephone lines to the home." Amati will be supplying France Telecom with two versions of its Overture 8 product for ADSL/DMT access. Initially, the stand-alone version of the Overture 8 for Internet Access will be used as the subscriber modem and the central office terminal unit. The Overture 8 unit is capable of providing 8 Mbps downstream data rates. The unit is also capable of automatically selecting either an 8 Mbps or a 4 Mbps downstream rate depending upon the network interface from France Telecom. When running at 8 Mbps, up to two set-top boxes and one PC terminal for IP services are connected to the ATU-R See ATU. unit. The upstream data rate for the trial is 384 Kbps for IP services and 32 Kbps for TV control. The Overture 8 in the trial is a serial version of the Ethernet access unit offered for direct data connection. This unit provides two serial ports (RS-422) to connect both set-top boxes (STB See set-top box. STB - set-top box ) and PC interfaces. Amati's Overture 8 Shelf-based Access System for ADSL/DMT will be incorporated as part of the trial equipment by the end of this year. This system offers multiple ADSL/DMT modems in a common central office shelf. The system provides for -48 Vdc power inputs and offers direct SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) A widely used network monitoring and control protocol. Data are passed from SNMP agents, which are hardware and/or software processes reporting activity in each network device (hub, router, bridge, etc. management capability for the shelf modems and in-band for the remote units. The subscriber modems being installed as part of the initial installation are also compatible with the shelf designed ADSL/DMT modems, so no change of subscriber equipment is needed as the central office shelves are installed. The Amati Overture 8 ADSL/DMT modem was the only commercially available modem tested as part of tele.com magazine's modem evaluation (tele.com, October `96). The magazine tested two Amati designs and the results (available from tele.com) showed that the Amati modem was the only non-prototype product available and the only product capable of handling ADSL services over standard line lengths and at data rates up to 4 Mbps downstream and 384 Kbps upstream. The 8 Mbps modem version being tested by France Telecom is the latest variation of the Amati patented standard-based ADSL/DMT technology. Initially, more than 50 users will be able to receive broadcast-quality video channels via their existing phone service connections. The ADSL/DMT technology meets the need for higher bandwidth transmission without the addition of extensive household-to-central-office cabling. Previous trials tested video-on-demand services at 1.5 - 2 Mbps, but higher bandwidth was needed to transmit live action, broadcast video channels with viewer-acceptable quality. "France Telecom selected Amati for the initial customer installations because of their vast experience in high-speed ADSL/DMT technology and the availability of their commercial 8 Mbps modems. The results so far are very positive, with customers happy with the modem real-time video services," stated Monsieur Guy du Chaffaut from France Telecom. In addition to the France Telecom trial, Amati is participating in tests of 2 Mbps and 4 Mbps video-on-demand (interactive video) services being offered by PTTs elsewhere in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, with companies such as Philips, Italtel, Tadiran and NEC (NEC Corporation, Tokyo, www.nec.com, www.necus.com) An electronics conglomerate known in the U.S. for its monitors. In Japan, it had the lion's share of the PC market until the late 1990s (see PC 98). NEC was founded in Tokyo in 1899 as Nippon Electric Company, Ltd. (AU). Amati is also providing ADSL/DMT equipment in GTE's current Internet access trials in Washington and Texas. Amati is a leading developer of advanced transmission equipment utilizing DMT technology for the ADSL, Very High-Speed Digital Subscriber Line See DSL. (communications, protocol) Digital Subscriber Line - (DSL, or Digital Subscriber Loop, xDSL - see below) A family of digital telecommunications protocols designed to allow high speed data communication over the existing copper telephone lines between end-users and (VDSL See DSL. VDSL - Very high bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line ) and cable modem markets. Amati is the holder of the ADSL/DMT patents and has licensed the technology to companies such as Nortel and Motorola. Amati is also a provider of network connectivity systems for the internetworking and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and marketplaces. The company's connectivity products include local area network gateways, client-based workstation software and network data communications interfaces. Statements made in this press release which are not historical, including statements regarding product demonstration, product capabilities and markets, are forward looking statements and as such are subject to a number of risks. Please see the Company's Annual Report and Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the 1996 fiscal year and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for additional disclosure regarding such risk factors. CONTACT: Amati Communications Benjamin W. (Tac) Berry, 408/879-2035 or Simon/McGarry Public Relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most Carol Felton, 408/746-0911 cfelton@shandwick.com |
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