Carrier Access' Newest Product Helps Service Providers Migrate to Tomorrow's Networks; Broadmore Platform Brings Cell-Based Circuit Provisioning to SONET Access.

Business Editors & Technology Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2001

Carrier Access Corporation (Nasdaq:CACS), a leading provider of broadband access equipment to service providers, today announced the introduction of its Broadmore platform.

The Broadmore 1700 meets service provider needs to logically provision circuits at access and interconnection points of optical SONET or WDM networks. Along with its circuit management capabilities, the Broadmore 1700 improves the use of carrier infrastructures by efficiently converting and packing structured circuits into ATM optical connections. As an example, this solution offers the ability to transport 11 DS3 circuits on an OC-12 optical connection for approximately half the cost of conventional TDM SONET, while offering the advantages of ATM provisioning.

The Broadmore 1700 offers a uniquely economical means of provisioning, grooming, and re-routing standard DS3, OC-3, and T1/E1 circuits via logical ATM cells rather than physical channels. The net result is that the costs and complexities of equipping and managing SONET and digital cross connect circuit plumbing are replaced by the speed, capacity, and cost improvements of logical

virtual circuit provisioning, while using high-capacity SONET or WDM transport. The Broadmore 1700 aggregates TDM circuits, such as DS1s, E1s, DS3s, and OC-3s, into a higher-speed ATM OC-3c/STM-1 or OC-12c/STM-4 pipe. The TDM to ATM conversion is accomplished using Circuit Emulation Service (CES) and Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVCs) or Switched Virtual Circuits (SVCs), which keep the integrity and low delay characteristics of the TDM traffic intact, while providing the benefits of ATM transport for converged voice and data networks.

"The Broadmore 1700 continues our tradition of providing industry-leading broadband access and service creation solutions that help communication service providers offer more service capabilities at lower total costs," according to Roger Koenig, Chief Executive Officer of Carrier Access. "Aggregating, grooming, and routing customer traffic to use fewer network resources accomplishes this. Service providers can effectively convert their current TDM access infrastructure to ATM multi-service access transport, protecting current investments while equipping for new service capabilities."

About Carrier Access

Carrier Access is a leading provider of broadband access and service creation equipment. Our customers are service providers and include local exchange carriers, wireless providers, ISPs, and global carriers. Carrier Access products enable service providers to deliver broadband business services to end users -- business-class voice, high-speed data, video and Internet access. Our products may be located in both carrier and customer facilities to create high-bandwidth access infrastructures. Carrier Access' Access Navigator(TM), Adit(TM), Broadmore(TM) and Wide Bank(R) product lines are used with optical fiber, T3, T1, DSL and digital radio transport technologies to deliver new services at lower operating costs. For more information about Carrier Access and our product solutions visit www.carrieraccess.com.

Access Bank and Wide Bank are registered trademarks, and Access Navigator, Access with no limits, Adit, Broadmore and the Carrier Access logo are trademarks of Carrier Access Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. All specifications and product pricing are subject to change without notice.