Carrier-Class Convergence from Marconi Communications at Telecom '99.

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 11, 1999--

Living proof that true carrier-class voice-over-IP has arrived on the world communications stage will be presented by Marconi Communications at this week's Telecom '99 exhibition in Geneva, where Marconi will be demonstrating its vision of the New Public Network.

As part of an exhibition stand dominated by integrated solutions and convergence, Marconi and fellow GEC company FORE Systems will be featuring examples of next generation networks in which voice and data travel side by side, over pure IP (Internet protocol) and ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) networks.

Mike Parton, chief executive officer of Marconi Communications, said, "Our vision of the new public network is becoming a reality. We are developing solutions which will allow multimedia services including voice, data, video, high-bandwidth data services and Internet traffic to travel together with carrier-class quality over broadband routes -- all the way through the access and core transmission networks."

Marconi's fast-emerging capability in multimedia networks is a direct result of acquisitions of key technologies, including ATM from FORE Systems -- whose switches already carry a major proportion of packet-based Internet traffic on the World Wide Web -- as well as innovative broadband access products from Marconi Communications North America, the former RELTEC Corporation; and RDC Communications, the Israeli company purchased by GEC.

Merging these complementary capabilities has given Marconi the ability to provide complete solutions while addressing one of the major challenges with voice-over-packet networks -- the ability to combine high quality of service with security and the features of today's voice networks.

"We are developing gateways and firewalls which meet established and emerging standards, and allow high-quality, real time voice-over-IP to be deployed over existing secure private networks," said Parton.

"In the enterprise market, these elements work together to police access to the private network and allocate a predetermined level of bandwidth to each subscriber. Suddenly, what was previously a data-only network gains the ability to deliver voice traffic with a guaranteed high quality of service."

Marconi's demonstrations at Geneva will show further variations on the voice-over-IP theme, building on the ATM protocol to enable existing data network operators and ISPs (Internet service providers) to add carrier-class voice services.

The following additional features of Marconi's New Public Network will be demonstrated at Telecom '99: -0-

--   Integration of Marconi's call control protocol with voice-over-IP
     elements (such as gatekeepers and gateways) to show how ATM and
     IP can work together to combine high-quality voice with existing
     data services.
--   Voice traffic being handled over FORE Systems' ATM and Ethernet
     products. The ForeRunner ASX(TM)-4000 is the first in a new
     generation of carrier-scale backbone switches.
--   Seamless integration of Intelligent Networks (IN) services into
     Marconi's New Public Network architecture, including
     demonstrations of Number Translation for Freephone or Premium
     Rate numbers.
--   The interworking of "Cosmocall," a new web based call center
     application from Cosmocom Inc. with Marconi's New Public Network
     architecture.

Parton said, "Our message to network operators is clear and simple. Convergence is here and now, and whether you are a PTT, an ISP or a data services provider, Marconi now has a tailored solution that will help you to compete on fair and equal terms right across the multimedia arena. "Data networks can carry high-quality voice traffic, ISPs can add carrier-class voice services, and established PTTs with separate voice and data networks now have options to offload some of their voice traffic onto their data network or vice versa."

Marconi Communications (formerly RELTEC(R) in the USA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of GEC (GEC is not affiliated with General Electric Company in the United States), a world leader in smart broadband optical networks, access equipment, switching technology for the Internet and network integration. GEC's recent acquisition of U.S.-based FORE Systems has positioned the company to be a leading player in the new public network and enterprise markets in addition to its established market leadership in the carrier and operators sphere. It has sales to more than 140 countries and a major presence in Europe, the USA, Africa and the Asia-Pacific Region.

In North America, contact Ron Sciepko, Marconi Communications Public Relations at 440/353-2120, e-mail: [e-mail].

In the U.K., contact Brian Dolby, Marconi Communications Press Office on [phone], email: [e-mail].