Broadband Investment Group and Zhone Technologies Form Strategic Partnership For DACS/TDM Aggregation Equipment.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 2000 BIG's Fiberian Portfolio Company To Use Zhone's ARCA-DACS Equipment Today, Broadband Investment Group Corporation(TM) (BIG)(TM), the first true networked services platform (NSP (1) (Network Service Provider) An organization that provides a high-speed Internet backbone to ISPs and other service providers. Sprint, MCI and UUNET are examples of NSPs. See Internet backbones. )(TM), through its Layer Two portfolio company, Fiberian Corporation(TM), formally signed a non-binding letter of intent with Zhone Technologies Inc., the first company dedicated to building comprehensive delivery solutions for voice, data, and content service providers worldwide to purchase nearly $2.7 million of Zhone's ARCA-DACS digital cross connect technology. The selection of the ARCA-DACS as a TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) A technology that transmits multiple signals simultaneously over a single transmission path. Each lower-speed signal is time sliced into one high-speed transmission. aggregator will be used in Fiberian's point-to-point ATM and Frame Relay A high-speed packet switching protocol used in wide area networks (WANs). Providing a granular service of up to DS3 speed (45 Mbps), it has become popular for LAN to LAN connections across remote distances, and services are offered by most major carriers. network services, announced Timothy M. Roberts, Chairman of the Board, Chief Visionary Officer A chief visionary officer (CVO) is a function within a company normally established beside the other executive functions like CEO or COO. The title is sometimes used to define a higher ranking position than that held by the CEO, and sometimes used to formalize a high-level , and Director of Broadband Investment Group Corporation. "Zhone is a proven equipment pioneer developing, delivering and supporting telecommunications Communicating information, including data, text, pictures, voice and video over long distance. See communications. carriers worldwide," said Roberts. "This deal is exciting because BIG will use Zhone's cutting-edge and proven DACS/TDM technology in our quest to provide 100 percent transaction guarantees for our customers. Additionally, this letter of intent demonstrates to BIG's customers and investors our commitment to provide the best global broadband infrastructure - delivering the industry's highest quality of service through service level agreements that have meaning." The general terms of the letter of intent outline BIG's intent to purchase approximately $2.7 million of Zhone equipment through an equity partnership and financing arrangement. The specifics of the equity and financing terms will be announced upon execution of the final contract. "Zhone Technologies is an innovator in the telecommunications and network industries, and we are excited to partner with BIG as we consider their NSP business model an industry leader in the delivery of high-quality broadband infrastructure and associated services," said Mory Ejabat, Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Zhone Technologies Inc. As one of 10 portfolio companies formed by BIG, Fiberian will provide point-to-point ATM and Frame Relay Service to businesses seeking to build private networks - all built upon Lumas'(TM) (another BIG company) redundant Layer One network. This experience, developed and refined for BIG's infrastructure build-out and implementation, will be leveraged for Fiberian's own customer base. "Fiberian is excited to partner with Zhone, an industry-proven company that understands our vision of exceeding our customers expectations," explained Dan P. Kennedy III, Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. , Fiberian. About Broadband Investment Group Corporation Broadband Investment Group Corporation (BIG), founded by 30-year-old Internet pioneer Tim Roberts and 31-year-old international operations Internal Operations (I.O., IO or I/O) is a fictional American Intelligence Agency in Wildstorm comics. It was originally called International Operations. I.O. first appeared in WildC.A.T.S. volume 1 #1 (August, 1992) and was created by Brandon Choi and Jim Lee. and management architect Patrick L. Smith and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is building a family of wholly controlled companies that will deliver the first customizable, scalable platform for businesses entering the eMarketplace. To efficiently provide a wide variety of solutions, BIG is building a networked services platform (NSP)(TM) through a holding-company corporate structure that actively manages a portfolio of broadband infrastructure companies. In creating its NSP, BIG is building the optimal business model for delivery of customized, scaled solutions. As an NSP, BIG is a: - Solution Assembler Software that translates assembly language into machine language. Contrast with compiler, which is used to translate a high-level language, such as COBOL or C, into assembly language first and then into machine language. - Portfolio coordinator creating customized solutions - eMerchant Bank(TM) - Portfolio funding source - Business Incubator Business incubators are organizations that support the entrepreneurial process, helping to increase survival rates for innovative startup companies. Entrepreneurs with feasible projects are selected and admitted into the incubators, where they are offered a specialized menu of - Portfolio business services provider Through its broadband solution assembler (SA), BIG will meet the enormous demand of these businesses by assembling customized, fully scalable solutions delivering the highest quality of service (QoS) through service level agreements (SLA (1) (StereoLithography Apparatus) See 3D printing. (2) (Service Level Agreement) A contract between the provider and the user that specifies the level of service expected during its term. ). BIG's solutions can be scaled to meet demand for projects starting at $25,000 per month or as large as $30 million per month...or greater. Please visit BIG's Web site at www.bigcorp.net for additional information. About Zhone Technologies, Inc. Founded in September 1999 and based in Oakland, Calif., Zhone Technologies is a new breed of equipment provider with a new vision of product development, delivery and support for telecommunications carriers worldwide. Starting with an unprecedented $500 million in funding, Zhone's strategy is to combine existing solutions with Zhone intellectual property to create a product portfolio that is purpose-built to cost effectively supply multi-million-user, next-generation networks with a rich array of voice, video, Internet, and entertainment services. The company was founded by the senior management team that grew telecommunications pioneer Ascend Communications, Inc., from its startup roots to the multi-billion-dollar company acquired by Lucent Technologies (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : LU) in September 1999. Zhone's initial investors include Kohlberg Kravis Roberts Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (commonly referred to as KKR) is a New York City-based private equity firm that focuses primarily on late-stage leveraged buyouts. It was founded in 1976 by Jerome Kohlberg, Jr., and cousins Henry Kravis and George R. & Co., Texas Pacific Group, and New Enterprise Associates. Please visit Zhone's Web site at www.zhone.com for additional information. |
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