Bnet Selects Veraz's Packet Telephony Solution For Its Multi-Vendor Flexibility and Variety of Hosted Voice Services.

Business Editors

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 23, 2004

Integrated Class 4/5-based network to carry International traffic

Veraz Networks announced Bnet, Turkey's leading communications and telecommunications service provider, has selected Veraz's carrier-grade, end-to-end Packet Telephony solution due to its ability to support multi-vendor enterprise equipment, which is currently deployed throughout the Bnet customer's integrated network. The VoIP solution selected by BNET included the Veraz ControlSwitch, which is the de facto open softswitch platform for supporting multi-vendor solutions, the I-Gate 4000 high-density media gateways and a vast variety of third party Integrated Access Devices (IADs) from multiple vendors. BNET will now be able to deliver voice services including international long distance and global access to enhanced services such as prepaid calling to new business and residential customers located throughout Turkey. With Veraz providing a VoIP solution that is open and flexible to integrate with Bnet's current network, Bnet can respond to customer needs, deploy new enhanced services, retain and attract subscribers while expanding its portfolio of services to include hosted voice applications.

Additionally, by selecting the carrier grade Veraz ControlSwitch with its advanced Service Framework capabilities, Bnet can empower service providers to quickly capture new revenue opportunities through dramatically different types of voice and multi-media services. When BNET decides to scale or add new services, this will be done with ease due to the flexibility and stability of the Veraz open softswitch platform and capability to support multi-vendor equipment.

Bnet will now have a competitive edge to deploy the NGN infrastructure and offer services across a multi-city network with multiple POPs in a few short weeks rather than several months. While new services are deployed to attract new customers, the Veraz ControlSwitch works behind the scenes to centrally manage all activities seamlessly from one location to cover a multi-city or multi-country IP network. "We saw the demand to expand our IP services and we needed to upgrade our network with a solution that could support existing multi-vendor equipment, Veraz was the one solution that was reliable and could be deployed quickly on a large-scale," said Burak Gokmen, General Manager at Bnet. "Veraz Networks exceeded this criteria and delivered a complete platform for us to grow and extend our business while giving us a leading edge over our competitors, we are very satisfied with Veraz's knowledge of the VoIP market and the maturity of the products and solutions they have delivered."

In Bnet's network, which connects to its enterprise customers, there are a number of integrated access devices (IADs) from various vendors with Class 5 support. Therefore, the ability to choose a VoIP solution that could integrate Class 4/5 capabilities seamlessly was of importance. Further, since bandwidth is expensive in Turkey, a solution that can be deployed and maintained cost-effectively with limited resources and can scale easily to introduce competitively-priced services were critical in Bnet's final selection process. Solutions that feature Veraz's ControlSwitch and I-Gate 4000 media gateways allow service providers to deploy new services and applications at a rapid pace enabling access to global SS7 networks, including complex intelligent network services already deployed within incumbent carriers, which allows new and existing service infrastructure to be available to both VoIP and traditional PSTN users.

"With deregulation in Turkey, Bnet had an opportunity to leapfrog its competition and expand its offering to converged voice services. We understood this and could deliver a complete packet telephony solution that lets them get up and running in very little time without any compatibility issues," said Tal Simchony, CEO of Veraz Networks. "Service providers, like Bnet, can't afford to wait or lose time on deploying services, we allow them to move fast and attract new customers to reach their revenue goals."

About Bnet

Bnet, one of Turkey's leading communications and telecommunications service suppliers, provides innovative services that generate added value in these fields. Bnet, a Borusan company, which is one of Turkey's biggest holding companies, is structured to become an alternative telco operator after the liberalization of the telecommunication sector. Placing customer orientation at the core of its vision, Bnet's most important advantages are an experienced and well-informed team, partners that are experts in their respective fields, and powerful solution providers covering every part of Turkey.

Bnet, a pioneer of the sector since 1996, became a leader in many fields with its experience in the ICT sector, encompassing vision, and recent investments and acquisitions. Currently, Bnet is the leader of the Turkish corporate Internet market with an over 25% market share.

About Veraz Networks

(www.veraznetworks.com)

Veraz Networks is privately funded by ECI Telecom (NASDAQ: ECIL), Argonaut Private Equity, Battery Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Levensohn Venture Partners and Norwest Venture Partners. The company is headquartered in San Jose, CA, with offices throughout the world.