CopperCom Announces General Availability of Local Exchange Softswitch; CopperCom LeXSS Leads the Industry with More Than 20 Customers.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2000

Following its successful customer beta testing program, CopperCom, the company that is Creating Voice Services over Broadband, today announced general availability of its Local Exchange Softswitch System, the LeXSS. The CopperCom LeXSS is the industry's first softswitch platform architected to deliver new local exchange services with groundbreaking softswitch and broadband access technologies. Tightly integrated in the LeXSS, these technologies form the basis of an innovative architecture that enables service providers to deliver compelling new voice and data services to business and residential subscribers at a fraction of the cost of traditional network infrastructure.

Today the LeXSS is being deployed to more than 20 customers, leading the industry with the largest customer base of local exchange softswitches. The first phase of the LeXSS is comprised of the CopperController softswitch and the CopperCom CSX 2100, a low-cost switch, which customers have been testing since earlier this year.

According to Tom Jenkins, director at TeleChoice, "We have seen an enormous amount of progress in the softswitch arena, however, there are still few vendors that have a clear, comprehensive product strategy and impressive customer roster -- all of which CopperCom has today. CopperCom's solution offers service providers a fully-equipped voice services architecture that enables the intelligent migration of their infrastructure and transformation to an end-to-end packet network."

CommunityTel, a CLEC based in Southern Indiana and Western Kentucky, provides local, long distance and Internet services to approximately 35,000 customers. According to John Greenbank, vice president of operations at CommunityTel, "The CopperController and CSX 2100 are being installed, including the SS7 links, and all are running smoothly. We have been extremely pleased with the ease of installation and operation of the system. CopperCom's end-to-end, broadband access and softswitch solution will give us the unique tools to deliver compelling voice services competitively to subscribers in new and existing markets."

About the CopperCom Local Exchange Softswitch System

The CopperCom LeXSS is comprised of three platforms: 1) a switching and media conversion platform, 2) a softswitch platform, 3) and a provisioning and management platform.

The switching platform provides line side interfaces to subscribers via circuit and packet access networks. Subscribers can connect existing telephones, key systems and PBXs over circuit connections, T1s and DLCs, as well as to IADs over a VoDSL access network. On the trunk side, the switching platform connects to the PSTN through SS7 ISUP trunks, and also connects to packet core networks. The switching platform features an integrated signaling gateway that supports links to the SS7 network.

The softswitch controls the switch platform using the Megaco/H.248 standard. It provides call handling, line and trunk side features, as well as a rich feature creation environment. In order to move beyond pure transport, carriers are continuously seeking ways to differentiate services. CopperCom's revolutionary feature creation environment allows service providers to offer a broader range of customized voice services to their subscribers.

The LeXSS appears to the network as a single system, including the switch, softswitch, and remote IADs, simplifying the provisioning and management of the system. Interoperability with existing OSSs is supported through northbound interfaces, including Corba, SNMP and XML. In addition, subscriber self-care can be enabled via a web portal and supported by integrated remote management of the IADs -- reducing operational support costs.

LeXSS Phase I

The first phase of the CopperCom LeXSS, generally available today, delivers full Class 4 functionality with a solid foundation for Class 5 feature support. In the first phase, the switching platform connects to PBXs using T1 CAS and ISDN PRI, and broadband packet networks using a standalone VoDSL gateway on the line side. On the trunk side, the switch seamlessly connects to the PSTN with complete signaling support, including SS7 ISUP, ISDN PRI, Feature Group B, and Feature Group D. SS7 TCAP support enables transparent delivery of AIN enhanced services, including Local Number Portability (LNP), 800 number translation and calling name delivery.

The CopperController, deployed in dual-redundant server platforms, provides all call control, signaling support, and delivers more than 20 "must-have" trunk side and long distance features -- including multi-PIC routing, calling card and least cost routing. These trunk side features are delivered through CPML (Call Policy Markup Language), the underpinnings of the feature creation environment. VoDSL transport is provided via the CopperCom Gateway and the CopperCom MXR, delivering both high-speed data and up to 24 voice lines simultaneously over a single, copper wire.

LeXSS Phase II

As announced last June, CopperCom plans to deliver the second phase of the LeXSS in Q1 2001, providing complete functionality of a combined Class 4 and Class 5 solution, with integrated broadband access.

The switching platform will include GR-303 support for DLCs, and the broadband access component will be integrated into a single platform -- ensuring that AAL2 traffic can be handled directly by the switching platform without the need for a separate packet to circuit gateway.

The CopperController software controls the switch platform through the Megaco/H.248 standard protocol. This version will support line side features, including more than 40 of the essential custom calling features, CLASS and business group features, such as caller ID, call waiting and call forwarding. CopperController supports both standard and personalized calling features, maintains subscriber service profiles, and includes an object-oriented, XML-based, service creation environment for developing innovative new features. Its unique web interface enables subscriber self-care through customized portals, as well as service provider development of new features. With a simple browser, service providers can enable subscribers to verify call status and configure feature parameters, such as call forwarding by the time of day, day of the week, or calling number ID.

LeXSS Phase III

Targeted for Q2 2001, the LeXSS will support end-to-end packet networking with the addition of a packet trunk interface to the switch platform. Supporting standards-based VoDSL on the access network, the LeXSS will provide an integrated hand-off to both VoIP and AAL2 core packet voice networks, with signaling support for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Bearer-Independent Call Control (BICC).

About CopperCom

CopperCom, the company that is Creating Voice Services over Broadband, designs and markets a full suite of telecommunications products for the access network -- delivering high-speed data and up to 24 voice lines simultaneously over a single, copper wire. CopperCom has transformed today's business model for service providers by uniquely combining a low-cost switching platform with an industry-leading transport architecture -- enabling a natural migration to a full packet telephone network while preserving critical investments. CopperCom is the only company that offers a full end-to-end solution that combines broadband access with a low-cost softswitch and the rich feature creation environment for local telephony -- giving service providers a new way to differentiate and bundle innovative services for subscribers in the highly profitable residential and small business markets. Founded in 1997, CopperCom is a privately held, Silicon Valley-based company funded by leading venture partners, including Advent International, AT&T Ventures, Charlie Bass, Hambrecht and Quist, Morgan Stanley, and Technology Crossover Ventures. For additional information, CopperCom can be reached at 408/987-8500, or on the Internet at www.coppercom.com.

Note to Editors: CopperCom, CopperController, CopperCom LeXSS, CSX 2100 and Creating Voice Services over Broadband are trademarks of CopperCom.