BELLSOUTH/LUCENT TEST ADSL AT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CAMPUS.

The University of Miami, BellSouth and Lucent Technologies are planning a six-month trial of a high-speed data technology that enables ordinary telephone lines to transmit information over 100 times faster than today's fastest dial-up modems.

Beginning this month, the trial begins on the University of Miami's Coral Gables campus using BellSouth's network and asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) equipment provided by Lucent. This is the first trial to focus on the interoperability of different vendors' equipment in conjunction with Lucent's 5ESS(R) AnyMedia(TM) Switches in BellSouth's network. This interoperability is necessary to provide easy "plug and play" installation and set up for users, thus eliminating the time and expense associated with third-party installation.

Through ADSL, University students and staff involved in the trial will have "always-on" high-speed access to the campus network and the Internet for research and communications.

Users also will be able to make and receive phone calls while they're online, since ADSL provides for simultaneous voice and data communications on existing telephone lines.

"In the near future, an educational environment must not be limited to the campus infrastructure," said Dr. M. Lewis Temares, vice president/CIO Information Technology and Dean of the College of Engineering of the University of Miami.

"Virtual private networks will link students, on and off campus, to university data resources and corporate resources, as well as the Internet. Students will be able to participate in 'virtual classrooms' across the world. This trial puts the University of Miami - and more importantly, our students -- at the forefront of reaping the benefits of the information revolution."

The trial will have three phases with each providing an opportunity to test different levels of ADSL service and a variety of ADSL equipment. The first will focus on full-rate ADSL that delivers up to 8 Megabits per second (Mbps) of bandwidth to the user and is ideal for high bandwidth business applications and remote access LAN connectivity. The second and third phases will focus on mass market or "ADSL Lite," delivering speeds up to 1.5 Mbps and targeted more to consumer and small business use.

The trial will test the interoperability of a number of vendors' external and internal modems with BellSouth's network and Lucent's 5ESS switches. Modems supplied by 3Com will be the first to be tested.

Mass market ADSL is based on specifications developed by the Universal ADSL Working Group (UAWG), an industry consortium including the major PC, networking and telecommunications companies. The UAWG played a significant role in the decision by the International Telecommunications Union to sanction G.Lite ADSL as an industry standard. Such standards provide the basis for "interoperability" - the capability that enables vendors' equipment to operate with other vendors' equipment.

"The G.Lite standard will help speed ADSL deployment because it describes a version of ADSL that doesn't require special wiring or installation of line splitters at the customer's premises. This, in turn, will allow customer equipment to be purchased 'off the shelf' for self-installation as well as integrated into new PCs," said John Cahill, executive director - BellSouth Advanced Networking and Co-chairman of the Universal ADSL Working Group.

"BellSouth is committed to user-friendly services such as ADSL Lite that offer a plug and play approach to communications because most people aren't trained technicians.

Plus, we recognize that our customers want the benefits of high-speed Internet and corporate access technology without requiring the inconvenience and expense of third-party installation," Cahill said.

Modem and personal computer manufacturers will be making standards-based G.Lite ADSL technology available in their products as early as December. This will enable users to purchase ADSL modems from their neighborhood computer stores as easily as they buy dial-up modems today with the confidence that they will function with ADSL in any service provider's network.

The trial at the University of Miami also will utilize and study other ADSL-related equipment and interfaces, such as ADSL "gateways" that support access to multiple Internet service providers and virtual private networks. These studies open the way to enhanced BellSouth service offerings for educational, residential and corporate customers.

"We're extremely pleased to be involved with BellSouth in this important ADSL trial that will pave the way for full deployment of this high-speed technology," said Carly Fiorina, group president - \ Global Service Provider Business, Lucent Technologies. "Lucent Technologies - supported by Bell Laboratories - is committed to doing what it takes to keep BellSouth at the leading edge of communications development."

Founded in 1925 in Coral Gables, Florida, the University of Miami is the largest, most comprehensive private research university in the Southeastern United States. More information on the University of Miami is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.miami.edu.

Lucent Technologies designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public and private networks, communications systems and software, business telephone systems and microelectronic components. Bell Labs is the research and development arm for the company. More information about Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N. J., is available on its Web site at http://www.lucent.com.

BellSouth is a $21 billion communications services company.

It provides telecommunications, wireless communications, cable and digital TV, directory advertising and publishing, and Internet and data services to nearly 31 million customers in 20 countries worldwide. BellSouth provides telecommunications services in nine Southeastern states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. With its headquarters in Atlanta, BellSouth serves more than 23 million local telephone lines and provides local exchange and intraLATA long distance service over one of the most modern telecommunications networks in the world.

For more information, call 202-463-4129.