DIATEM Networks Completes Deployment of 10 Gigabit Metro-Ethernet Service Control Platform.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

TeleManagement World 2003

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 2003

DIATEM Networks, the leader in Metro-Ethernet services control, today announced at TeleManagement World 2003, that it has successfully completed implementation of its NETPortal Service Control Platform for Telecom Ottawa's all-optical, 10 Gigabit Ethernet network - the largest such metropolitan-wide network in North America. Telecom Ottawa, a subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa Holding, offers advanced Ethernet, VLAN and Internet services across nearly 600 kilometers of fiber optic cable throughout the Ottawa region with plans to deploy an additional 200 kilometers of fiber cable in the next 12 months.

"Our all-optical, next generation Ethernet-based network was built to provide reliable, high-bandwidth service on-demand to our business customers," said Dave Dobbin, Chief Operating Officer, Telecom Ottawa. "To fully leverage the network potential, we needed a service control system that delivers simple, single-step configuration, provisioning and ongoing management capabilities across Telecom Ottawa's network. DIATEM has provided that capability and is an important contributor to our growth strategy," added Dobbin. "As we add new technologies such as MPLS to our network, we look forward to further leveraging their capabilities."

"Enterprise demand for Metro Ethernet services is gaining momentum," said Kevin Vachon, Chief Executive Officer, DIATEM Networks. "Our goal was to build a technically superior system that was very simple to operate, facilitating new service deployment and minimizing service management costs. As a highly competitive service innovator, committed to delivering bottom line results, Telecom Ottawa is an excellent customer for DIATEM and we look forward to continuing to serve their needs."

DIATEM's platform was specifically designed to enable network operators to expand revenues delivering differentiated Ethernet services across multi-service and multi-vendor networks. NETPortal's extensive imbedded intelligence allows new services to be delivered with quantifiable Class and Quality of Service (CoS/QoS) attributes. DIATEM has developed new algorithms that take full account of network resource availability, performance characteristics and apply extensive service modeling techniques to automate and optimize service configurations.

Telecom Ottawa utilizes key features of NETPortal's 1.7 release, including:

-- Service definition, creation, admission control, and

activation, combined to deliver rapid, "one-touch" error free

provisioning;

-- Support for Ethernet, VLAN, IP/VLAN provisioning;

-- Automated topology and service discovery for real-time network

resource availability and service Reconciliation;

-- Service monitoring and reporting for operations management 

staff.

About Telecom Ottawa

Telecom Ottawa, a subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc., is a broadband data utility that delivers networking bandwidth and Internet services to businesses and public-sector organizations in the Ottawa region. The company owns and operates an all-optical communications backbone in the Ottawa region. This extensive broadband infrastructure, which includes hundreds of kilometers of fiber optic cable, is equipped with Gigabit Ethernet technology, enabling the provision of bandwidth capacity for data networking, broadband Internet access, e-business applications, videoconferencing and other multimedia communications services.

About DIATEM Networks

DIATEM Networks is the leading developer of real-time service control platforms for Metro Ethernet networks. DIATEM enables service providers to expand revenues by offering new, on-demand Ethernet services with quantifiable Class and Quality of Service (CoS/QoS) attributes across heterogeneous, multi-vendor networks. DIATEM drives operating costs lower by extensive use of process automation, integrated network engineering and real-time feedback and control, simplifying service provisioning, maintaining service integrity and maximizing network resource utilization.