DSL Forum Launches DSLHome at SUPERCOMM 2003; Endorsed by 11 Industry Consortiums, DSL Forum Forges The Path To Extraordinary Home Networks.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUPERCOMM 2003

Booth #10518, Hall C

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 2003

The DSL Forum, the industry consortium dedicated to developing the potential of broadband digital subscriber line (DSL) to benefit the global community, today announced the launch of its DSLHome(TM) initiative. Broadband DSL bestows the typical family with ample bandwidth and fast, secure connections, simultaneously linking networked home appliances to the latest online applications and multi-media services-- from gaming to business quality video conferencing and peer-to-peer networking.

"Telecommunications service providers recognize the incredible potential of broadband DSL fueled home networks, and as an industry, we are converging on new standards, specifications and provider best practices that are setting the stage for home networking excellence," said Tom Starr, chairperson and president of the DSL Forum. "DSL is clearly the best broadband access service to support a home network, as a simple secure solution that serves multiple users efficiently and simultaneously, with speed that keeps up with their daily lives."

DSLHome has two components: technical innovation and support, as well as market awareness and promotion. This two-tiered approach in tandem with DSL Forum's drive toward fully interoperable equipment will create a real broadband DSL mass market with low consumer prices and simple setup of high-speed broadband powered home networks. As part of this program, the DSL Forum has initiated new technical work to address some key areas:

-- LAN side DSL customer premise equipment (CPE) configuration

specifications

-- Dual port router requirements

-- WAN-side DSL CPE management specifications

-- Interface & System configuration for ADSL on customer premises

-- Privacy and Protection Security

In addition to this technical work, the DSL Forum will be launching programs to improve users' knowledge of DSL powered home networks, and equip these users to make educated home network decisions and broadband choices. The first outcome of this effort is a pair of home networking user guides, currently under development and scheduled to be released in 4Q03.

DSLHome Widely Supported

One of the most positive elements surrounding DSL Forum's DSLHome is the solid support that the global telecommunications and home networking industry is providing. DSLHome is currently endorsed by eleven leading industry groups that range from very specific home networking solution consortiums, to broad telecommunications associations that have members actively engaged in rolling out DSL-based home network solutions. These consortiums are assisting DSLHome development by providing architecture and provider consumer requirements. Furthermore, by acting as a voice into relative industries, these coalitions are now sharing the progress and best practices that will propel the networked home forward. These organizations supporting the DSL Forum's work in this sphere are:

-- Broadband Content Delivery Forum

-- Consumer Electronic Association

-- European Competitive Telecommunications Association

-- HomePlug(R) Powerline Alliance

-- Home Phoneline Networking Alliance--"HomePNA"

-- International Engineering Consortium

-- Internet Home Alliance

-- National Telecommunications Cooperative Association

-- OPASTCO

-- United States Telecom Association

-- Wi-Fi Alliance

According to a May 2003 Forrester Research, Inc. report, 44 percent of online households will have a home network in 2008. DSLHome will ensure that DSL is uniquely positioned to serve those customers with the security, quality of service, and speed that will render the DSL powered home network the best choice for the online family.

"The achievements, making broadband DSL the best technology to deliver home networking content and applications, are due largely to the cooperation of vendors continuing to advance the critical work on broadband DSL's related services and equipment," said Robert Escalle, member of the DSL Forum Board of Directors and chairperson of the organization's Deployment Council. "To facilitate the global mass market, the DSL Forum develops technical best practices which greatly enhance the value of broadband connections by providing the performance and QoS needed to send multiple high-speed multi-media to networked DSL appliances."

Leading Consortiums Comment on DSL Forum's DSLHome(TM)

    --  "The DSLHome initiative will allow residential business
        consumers to take better advantage of the applications and
        services that the BCD Forum helps promote and is demonstrating
        at SUPERCOMM."
        - Marie Hattar, chair of the BCD Forum

    --  "ECTA totally supports the DSLHome initiative and its aim of
        connecting as many broadband homes as possible. ECTA believes
        in the value of competition and open access in driving the
        broadband future."
        - Roger Wilson, ECTA's chairman

    --  "The HomePlug(R) Powerline Alliance enthusiastically supports
        the DSLHome initiative. With HomePlug(R) networking, customers
        can quickly and easily share a DSL broadband connection
        throughout a home. Likewise, we think the DSLHome initiative
        will have significant influence in making broadband access
        easier for customers to install and use."
        - Peter Kempf, president of the HomePlug(R) Powerline Alliance
        and vice president, marketing wireless data & networking
        components at Conexant Systems, Inc.

    --  "HomePNA is pleased that the DSL Forum is developing standards
        for home networking benefiting consumers, service providers,
        and equipment manufacturers. This forward-looking initiative
        opens opportunities to provide new services to networked
        computing and entertainment devices over the public network."
        - Rich Nesin, president of HomePNA and vice president of
        marketing at CopperGate Communications

    --  "The DSL Forum is perfectly positioned to catalyze this
        important industry program, which will most certainly advance
        broadband deployment in the home."
        - John Janowiak, Senior Director, International Engineering
        Consortium

    --  "As we work with our members to advance the home technology
        market, we applaud all efforts that build awareness for - and
        accelerate adoption of -- connected home solutions. DSLHome
        will be an important initiative in the connected home space."
        - Kristine Stewart, President Internet Home Alliance

    --  "NTCA members have demonstrated a strong commitment to
        deploying DSL services in their communities and the DSL
        Forum's DSLHome initiative only helps to strengthen our
        members' resolve to bring the most advanced telecommunications
        services to rural consumers. NTCA strongly supports this
        initiative and will be an active participant in its
        execution."
        - Bernadin Arnason, vice president, Business and Technology,
        National Telecommunications Cooperative Association

    --  "We applaud the steps the DSL Forum is taking to develop a
        cohesive initiative between manufacturers, service providers
        and associations to meet the networking needs of the home
        user."
        - Lynn Merrill, P.E. OPASTCO technical committee member

    --  "USTA applauds the DSLHome initiative and its efforts to
        increase consumer awareness of the many opportunities
        available through DSL service. Our members recognize the vast
        potential of DSL to significantly improve the lives of
        millions of people around the world. USTA looks forward to
        working with DSLHome on this important and worthy endeavour."
        - Walter B. McCormick, Jr., President and CEO, United States
        Telecom Association

    --  "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED wireless LANs and DSL broadband connectivity
        provide home users unprecedented mobility and fast access to
        the Internet. These technologies are proving to be very
        complementary. Once a consumer has experienced either
        technology, they want the other one. People just like being
        able to access bandwidth intensive information anywhere in
        their home,"
        - Dennis Eaton, chairman of the Wi-Fi Alliance

About the DSL Forum

The DSL Forum is an international industry consortium of nearly 200 leading service providers, equipment manufacturers and other interested parties, focused on developing the full potential of broadband DSL to meet the needs of the mass market. With the established goal of 200 million customers by 2005, the DSL Forum works to streamline processes, develop specifications and share best practices that set the stage for effective deployments, and explosive global DSL growth. By developing new standards and embracing new applications, the DSL Forum is tailoring DSL to meet the needs of the next generation of multi-media services and the online community. Established in 1994, more information about the DSL Forum is available from its industry site www.dslforum.org. Information tailored to end-users is available on www.dsllife.com.

DSL - more than a phone line - it's a global solution.