Bellcore's BroadNet(TM) broadband family of software products debuts at NFOEC in Boston.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 1995--Bellcore unveiled its BroadNet family of broadband software products today at the 11th annual National Fiber Optics Engineers Conference (NFOEC'95) at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

Bellcore's BroadNet software products offer communications service providers comprehensive solutions to help them plan, create, manage and deliver video and telephony services over their broadband networks.

This year's NFOEC is being co-sponsored by Bellcore and NYNEX.

In announcing the new BroadNet product line, Duane Elmquist, Bellcore assistant vice president of Mass Market and Business Broadband Services, noted, "Making the new broadband world a reality presents numerous choices and challenges for communications providers. Their task is magnified by the need to implement innovative operations strategies that are essential to meet customers' service expectations and to reduce operations costs."

Among the services for which large increases in available bandwidth will be required are teleconferencing, telecommuting, interactive distance learning, transmission of medical imaging data, home shopping, and movies on demand, Elmquist explained.

Based on the international Telecommunications Management Network (TMN) model, Bellcore's BroadNet broadband software offers communications providers three significant features -- flexibility, openess and vendor independence. TMN is a set of international standards that enable service providers to have as much flexibility as possible in choosing network technologies, operations systems, and equipment for their networks. Using Bellcore's BroadNet architecture, customers can integrate Bellcore applications with their own systems, as well as with systems developed by other vendors.

Available now, Bellcore's BroadNet applications can offer end-to-end assistance to telecomunciations service providers, large business, government, and academic institutions in designing, creating, delivering, and maintaining the components and service quality of their broadband networks. BroadNet software supports a variety of broadband network technologies including asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), hybrid-fiber coax (HFC), fiber to the curb (FTTC), and services such as switched digital video, broadcast video, Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN), data, and voice.

Bellcore's BroadNet capabilities are implemented via three functional layers:

o The Service-Management Layer (SML) provides support for service-order negotiation, billing, and trouble reporting. Customers can access the functions of this layer through a provider's service representative or by means of automated, self-service channels. Specialized support capabilities can be established for specific groups, such as residential customers, business customers and video information providers.

o The Network-Management Layer (NML) provides comprehensive information about network availability, performance, usage, and outages. This layer also supports the control and coordination of the network by providing a global view of the network elements (NEs) in the element layer. In addition, the NML expedites configuring and monitoring network equipment and transmission facilities, and managing network activation and restoral activities.

o The Element-Management Layer (EML) facilitates configuring network elements by sending messages to NEs, and recording updates to the software memory in NEs. This layer also stores information about network performance and outages collected by NEs, as well as information about the amount of bandwidth currently available in the network. The EML manages the switching and transmission functions necessary to deliver data, video, and voice services.

Elmquist emphasized that, unlike other broadband software on the market, customers are not obligated to purchase the whole BroadNet product line but can select only the software applications they need.

Three BroadNet applications will be demonstrated during exhibit hours at the NFOEC -- June 19 and 20 from 6 to 9 p.m., and June 21 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Visitors to the Bellcore booth at the NFOEC can see a demonstration of Bellcore's STAR(TM) Field Service Management Software. Unique to the industry, the STAR system was developed by CATV and fiber/broadband experts of SecaGraphics. It is now a wholly owned Bellcore product. The STAR system provides users with information about the status of their field forces and network including trouble reports, network failures, and work and maintenance schedules.

Another product which will be demonstrated is the BroadNet/Creation Engineering Module, a highly automated network engineering tool that greatly reduces both the engineering time required to design the network, as well as the amount of labor required for data input. It enables designers to lay out HFC networks and to evaluate the impact of field changes to the engineering design prior to physical construction.

Also at the Bellcore booth will be a multimedia presentation highlighting several other aspects of the BroadNet product line as well as information about Bellcore's consulting services to support broadband technologies.

Bellcore's BroadNet/Element Manager System, which interoperates with systems of ADC Telecommunications Inc. will be demonstrated in the ADC booth at the NFOEC. This BroadNet/Element Manager-based ADC OSWorx(TM) system offers service providers an element management solution that enables them to configure and monitor ADC's Homeworx(TM) broadband transmission system.

Several of Bellcore's BroadNet software applications -- the BroadNet/Creation system, BroadNet/Delivery software, BroadNet/Element Manager system, BroadNet/Force service assignment system, and BroadNet/Watch trouble report software -- are scheduled to be deployed in Southern New England Telephone's information superhighway, "I-SNET."

NYNEX has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bellcore to install the BroadNet/Delivery software and Bellcore's LocNet system later this year.

Bellcore is a leading provider of communications software and consulting services based on world-class research. Bellcore creates business solutions that make information technology work for telecommunciations carriers, businesses and governments worldwide.

BroadNet and STAR are trademarks of Bellcore.

OSWorx and Homeworx are trademarks of ADC Telecommunications Inc.

CONTACT: Bellcore

Barbara Kaufman, 201/740-4324