Ericsson launches Copper Broadband Access products.

RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 1997--Ericsson today announced the launch of its new Copper Broadband Access product family. The new Copper Broadband Access family enables operators and service providers to offer high-speed Internet access, remote LAN access, switched broadcast video, video conferencing and other services requiring high bandwidth in the access network. The system can be deployed by local exchange carriers, competitive access providers and Internet service providers.

"This is not just another ADSL system," said Ron Dikhoff, general manager and executive vice president, Network Systems, Ericsson Inc. "This is the first ADSL system that is designed with large scale deployment in mind. It is a powerful, extremely versatile and flexible tool for operators to use in their networks and generate new revenue streams. It is a system that the operators can install today and keep for many years, knowing that Ericsson is committed to meeting the market demands of tomorrow and protecting past investments."

The new Copper Broadband Access family consists of a complete set of products including customer premises ADSL modems, central office multiplexers and element management system. This fully ATM-based product range efficiently addresses the mass deployment aspects of ADSL. By employing ATM technology in the basic design of the system, Ericsson has been able to fully exploit the scalability properties of ATM, arriving at a system architecture that is performance- and cost-efficient in small and large installations.

The Copper Broadband Access multi-stage DSLAM is capable of aggregating up to 450 ADSL subscribers onto a single WAN interface, saving network operators valuable trunk lines. When traffic volume per user grows, the WAN interface can be duplicated, allowing load sharing. The distributed nature of the system allows the operator to locate DSLAM modules both inside and outside the central office. This distribution of network elements allows them to reach remotely located end users and still offer high bandwidth.

The DSLAM communicates with the remote modem over a high performance ADSL link based on DMT technology. The low-power, rate-adaptive ADSL link provides for uninterrupted service even in very harsh environments.

The new Copper Broadband Access ATU-R is a customer premises modem configurable to the user requirements. The modem can be equipped with an Ethernet 10BaseT interface and/or one or two ATMF-25 interfaces. The modem is a self-learning bridge allowing up to 256 stations to be connected on the LAN segment. The ATMF-25 interfaces can be used for attaching ATM based LANs or for receiving digital video services. The video services are provided in a switched mode. A PC NIC version of the remote modem will be released later.

The entire system - including the DSLAM, the ADSL link and subscriber equipment - is managed from the new Copper Broadband Access Element Manager using SNMP protocol. This gives operators full control over network resources and ease of fault detection. An additional service configuration system allows the operator to simplify the service provisioning process. The distributed and redundant architecture of the control system guarantees an uninterrupted service.

Ericsson already has received an order for this system from the Swedish operator Telia for an initial 2,000 lines to be delivered in July 1997. The system is currently also being tested with other operators around the world. General availability of the system is scheduled for September 1997.

Ericsson's 90,000 employees are active in more than 130 countries. Their combined expertise in fixed and mobile networks, mobile phones and infocom systems makes Ericsson the world-leading supplier in telecommunications.

CONTACT: KATHY EGAN 

LARS JONSTEG

212/685-4030