Ascend Simplifies End-to-End Multiprotocol DSL Transport for Carriers, ISPs and Corporate Users.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 1998--

Company Delivers Layer 2 Muxing for DSLTNT Central Office Concentrator

and Plug-and-Play DSL CPE Device

Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND), today announced support for Layer 2 multiplexing using Frame Relay over xDSL on the company's DSLTNT central office concentrator. Layer 2 muxing, based on the RFC 1490 standard, enables carriers to offer end-to-end, transparent multiprotocol DSL transport for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) without having to deal with IP addresses at the central office. To further simplify provisioning xDSL services, Ascend is shipping a new version of the DSLPipe customer premise router which is pre-configured for Layer 2 mux support; this plug-and-play solution means that carriers do not have to go on-site to install CPEs to support the new service, making it easier to roll out xDSL services.

Using the new service, remote users and corporate LANs can communicate with each other using any mix of protocols, from IP to IPX, over their IDSL, SDSL and RADSL links.

Carriers, who are prohibited from doing Layer 3 routing in the central office, previously used complicated workarounds that increased their operational overhead and required them to support such things as IP addressing. Layer 2 muxing enables carriers to offer end-to-end, transparent multiprotocol DSL transport. It also makes xDSL services more versatile for ISPs -- they can create secure, closed user groups, such as telecommuters, because the end-to-end connection uses Frame Relay Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVCs) over an xDSL line.

"We want our carrier customers to know they can always count on Ascend to bring them the most advanced capabilities in xDSL technology," says Ashok Dhawan, general manager for high speed access products at Ascend. "We also ensure practical implementation of advanced technology with such things as the pre-configured DSLPipeline router for the customer premise."

The DSLTNT is the only integrated multi-service xDSL concentrator for the telephone company's central office. The DSLTNT enables telephone companies (RBOCs) and competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) to deliver multiple xDSL services, including IDSL, SDSL, RADSL-CAP and RADSL-DMT, on a single platform at speeds from 128 Kbps to 7.0 Mbps on a single pair of local loop. The high-density DSLTNT can support up to 1,344 IDSL ports, 1,440 SDSL ports, or 540 RADSL ports in a single seven-foot telco rack. The DSLTNT is certified NEBS-compliant Level 3, which means it conforms to the rigorous requirements for central office operation in global carrier networks.

As part of its commitment to offering an end-to-end xDSL solution, Ascend has developed a complete family of xDSL customer premise routers. With today's announcement, Ascend has enhanced its DSLPipe model with plug-and-play Layer 2 mux support. The DSLPipe performs intelligent bridging of protocols, and forwards only those frames that do not belong to the local LAN segment. This intelligent bridging optimizes bandwidth utilization while performing bridging operations. Although the DSLPipe is pre-configured for Layer 2 muxing, customers also have the option of configuring the device for PPP with PAP/CHAP, MP, MP+, Frame Relay, DHCP, NAT and Secure Access Firewall.

Pricing and Availability

Layer 2 multiplexer support is available immediately through a free software upgrade on the DSLTNT.

About Ascend Communications

Ascend Communications, Inc. develops, manufactures and sells wide area networking solutions for telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and corporate customers worldwide. For more information about Ascend and its products, please visit the Ascend web site at www.ascend.com, or e-mail [e-mail].

Ascend is headquartered at One Ascend Plaza, 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, Calif., 94502. Phone (800) ASCEND4; Fax [phone].

CONTACT: Gallagher PR

Kristi An, 510/747-2721

[e-mail]