Astral Point Signs Multi-Million Dollar Contract With Advanced TelCom Group, Inc.

Business/Technology Editors

CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 2000

ATG Will Use Astral Point's ON 5000 Optical Services Node

As Building Block In New Multi-Service Metro Network

Astral Point Communications, Inc. said today that it has received from Advanced TelCom Group Inc. (ATG) a multi-million dollar, multi-year contract for Astral Point's ON 5000 Optical Services Node subject to completion of product testing. The ON 5000 nodes could be used in several new metropolitan optical networks that ATG is developing to serve middle-sized markets.

ATG is currently testing Astral Point's ON 5000 node and its ONset Optical Network Management System (ONMS). The tests are being conducted to validate the products' ability to support delivery of multiple network services and provide SONET-like protection over diverse transmission media. The ATG network provides integrated broadband telecommunications products and services that include Internet, advanced data, local exchange, domestic and long-distance and enhanced voice services. It will bring to business users in medium-sized cities throughout the U.S. a level of networking services comparable to those in major metropolitan areas.

"Our services require a scalable, flexible and reliable network infrastructure to reduce costs and speed network provisioning while enabling rapid traffic aggregation and transport over existing infrastructure without change. The ON 5000 product provides a new approach to protection that significantly reduces the start-up time and cost of our network deployment," Curt Wheeling, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Advanced TelCom Group, Inc. stated.

"Carriers measure today's transport solutions on many criteria: low first cost, scalable architecture, ease of services provisioning and, most importantly, the service and support delivered along with the product by the supplier company. Such capabilities are necessary to enable innovative customers like ATG to move swiftly, efficiently and reliably to be first to serve their users with one-of-a-kind services. We are pleased to have met ATG's high standards for this critical deployment," said Raj Shanmugaraj, founder, president and chief executive officer of Astral Point.

An Integrated Solution

The ON 5000 Optical Services Node supports many networking functions through its switching fabric, including optical, SONET, ATM, DCS, IP, leased-line TDM and Gigabit Ethernet traffic. The product can dramatically improve the performance of optical networks used to carry voice, data, video and other traffic; such performance derives from advanced and patent-pending capabilities that combine, in a single platform, DWDM, ATM, IP and SONET interworking, centralized element management, rapid provisioning and reduced complexity.

About Advanced TelCom Group

Advanced TelCom Group, Inc. (ATG) of Santa Rosa, California, is a rapidly growing Integrated Communications Provider (ICP) that focuses on the under-served, middle-sized markets across the United States. ATG offers an integrated set of telecommunications products and services including high speed Internet services, local exchange, domestic and international long distance, and other enhanced voice services supported via digital networks including DSL technology. The result is "one-stop" shopping, which allows ATG to become "the local Internet and telephone company" of choice to its customers. For more information visit the ATG web site at www.CALLATG.com.

About Astral Point

Privately held Astral Point Communications, Inc., of Chelmsford, MA, is pioneering the development of optical networking equipment to manage bandwidth for new types of services in metropolitan, regional and other optical access markets. Its patent-pending Self-Healing Mesh algorithm on the ON 5000 node enables SONET-quality protection and restoration capabilities in a flexible mesh network topology that maximizes efficient use of optical power, simplifies service upgrades and optimizes use of the optical infrastructure. Its ONset Optical Network Management System (ONMS) enables service providers to add hundreds of circuits in minutes from a single console. ONset also provides centralized management of circuit aggregation, grooming, LAN interconnection, banding and transport functions. Additional information about these capabilities can be found on the Astral Point web site at www.astralpoint.com