Data Connection Ships Initial Release of First to Market OIF UNIv1.0 Software, Confirming Their Market Leadership in Carrier-class Optical Control Plane Software.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 2001

CIENA Corporation, Corvis Corporation and other major systems

vendors have already selected Data Connection's OIF UNI software

Data Connection (DCL), the leading supplier of carrier-class portable networking software, yesterday shipped the initial release of its Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) User-to-Network (UNI) v1.0 implementation.

DCL's OIF UNI implementation enables next generation equipment to request transport services from an intelligent optical transport network in a standards based interoperable way. It provides OEMs with a flexible source code solution with the same high quality architecture and support for which DCL's other communications software is renowned.

It is also integrated with DCL's other leading carrier-class solutions, DC-MPLS/GMPLS, DC-LMP and DC-OSPF to provide a complete carrier-class optical control plane solution.

In June this year, DCL participated in the OIF's interoperability event at SuperComm, which was to demonstrate OIF UNI signaling functionality. Of the 22 systems vendors successfully participating, 9 were powered by DCL's software including CIENA Corporation, Corvis Corporation, ONI Systems Corp., Optisphere Networks, Turin Networks, Village Networks and Zaffire.

A full list of DCL's customers for MPLS and related software can be found at http://www.dataconnection.com/mpls/customer.htm.

"The OIF UNI provides an important piece of the jigsaw for next generation optical networks. We are now working with many of the leading players in optical networking and our customer's insight, combined with our leading expertise in the development of carrier-class protocol software, has enabled us to develop an implementation that is both first-to market and of the highest quality," said Phil McConnell, DCL's CEO. "Combining this with our GMPLS, IP Routing and LMP products allows customers a rapid path to a fully integrated, rigorously developed intelligent optical control plane solution."

"The OIF UNI is an important enabler for next-generation bandwidth-on-demand services in multi-vendor optical networks," said Dr. Adel Saleh, Corvis VP and Chief Network Architect. "Working with DCL in GMPLS and the UNI has proved a great success. "The close partnership that we have developed, combined with their excellent customer support, has enabled Corvis to implement this technology rapidly and to a high standard."

"CIENA has played a leading role in the development of the OIF UNI. We attended the interoperability event on both sides of the optical interface, with the CoreDirector and the K2 MetroDirector," said Jeff Weiss, CIENA's vice president of Systems Architecture. "DCL worked closely with both teams from day one. We were impressed with the quality of their implementation and support."

Generalized MPLS (GMPLS) and UNI are key enabling technologies for the optical networking revolution. GMPLS was developed to enable on-demand provisioning and reduced management of optical networks. UNI borrows heavily from GMPLS, giving systems vendors the option of using GMPLS or UNI to connect the access network to the optical core.

Further information about this first release, the subsequent releases of OIF UNI function, and any other aspects of DCL's optical control plane solutions are available on request or by visiting us at Booth 530 at the Next Generation Networks Conference in Boston, MA.

About OIF

Launched in April of 1998, the OIF is a rapidly growing, non-profit organization with 360+ member companies to date, including many of the world(1)s leading carriers and vendors.

As the only industry group uniting representatives from packet and voice networks, the OIF helps advance the standards and methods of optical networks. OIF's purpose is to accelerate the deployment of interoperable, cost-effective and robust optical internetworks and their associated technologies.

Optical internetworks are data networks composed of routers and data switches interconnected by optical networking elements.

With the goal of promoting worldwide compatibility of optical internetworking products, the OIF actively supports and extends the work of national and international standards bodies. Formal liaisons have been established with The ATM Forum, IEEE 802.3 HSSG, the IETF and T1. More information on the OIF can be found at www.oiforum.com.

About Data Connection Limited

Data Connection Limited (DCL) is the leading independent developer and supplier of MPLS, IP Routing, LMP, ATM, MGCP/Megaco, SCTP, SIP, SS7, Conferencing, Unified Messaging, Directory and SNA portable products. Customers include 3Com, Cabletron, Cisco, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, IBM Corp., Lucent, Microsoft, Nortel Networks, NCR, SGI and Sun.

Data Connection is headquartered in London UK, with US offices in Reston, VA and Alameda, CA. It was founded in 1981 and is privately held. During each of the past 20 years, its profits have exceeded 20% of revenue. Last year sales exceeded $35M, of which 90% were outside the UK, mostly in the US. In 1999 DCL achieved its second Queen's Award for outstanding export performance.

For information, contact Toby Eccles by email at [e-mail], phone [phone], or visit our Web site at http://www.dataconnection.com.

Data Connection is a trademark of Data Connection Limited and Data Connection Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.