Ethernet Moves Closer To Becoming The Universal Broadband Access Technology; IEEE 802.3ah EFM Task Force Adopts Baseline For Ethernet In The First Mile Standard.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

The Ethernet in the First Mile Alliance (EFMA) today announced that the IEEE 802.3ah EFM Task Force has reached consensus on a complete set of baseline technical proposals that will provide the foundation of the Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) standard. Adoption of the baseline proposals is the third major milestone in the IEEE standardization process and provides the basis upon which the editors will now write the first draft of the EFM standard.

"This milestone marks significant consensus on critical issues and puts us on a path for the first draft of the specification to be completed in September 2002," said Bruce Tolley, Vice President of Technology for the Ethernet in the First Mile Alliance and Manager of Emerging Technologies for Cisco's Gigabit Systems Business Unit. "A successful standard process will be the key driving factor in the development of low-cost, interoperable Ethernet broadband access equipment from multiple vendors, and will enable the deployment of Ethernet broadband services in public subscriber networks."

During last week's IEEE 802 meeting, held July 7-11 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, over 100 members of the IEEE 802.3ah EFM Task Force met to discuss and agree upon a detailed set of technical proposals that will outline the specifics of the specification. This is the third major milestone in the EFM standard process. The previous milestones include the formation of a Study Group in November of 2000 and the approval of a PAR (Project Authorization Request) during Q3 2001.

The EFM draft standard will encompass all the technical elements necessary for broadband Ethernet: including Physical Layer specifications for operation over copper, fiber point-to-point, fiber point-to-multi-point, and a common mechanism for operation administration and maintenance (OAM), enabling deployment of broadband services to both business and residential users. During last week's meeting the Task Force agreed to widen the EFM application space by introducing a long-reach objective for copper access in response to strong demand from major service providers.

"A strong consensus was built around high-quality technical proposals which enabled us to reach this important step," noted Howard Frazier, Chairman of the IEEE 802.3ah EFM Task Force. "We have now laid the foundation for a comprehensive EFM standard."

About the IEEE 802.3ah Standards Effort

Since November 2000 more than 200 individuals from over 80 companies have participated in an IEEE study group, which formally became the IEEE 802.3ah EFM Task Force in September 2001. The IEEE 802.3ah EFM Task Force is chartered with developing the IEEE EFM standard and is part of the IEEE 802.3 Working Group, which is responsible for the development of all Ethernet standards. For additional information on the IEEE 802.3ah EFM Task Force, see http://www.ieee802.org/3/efm/index.html.

About the Ethernet in the First Mile Alliance (EFMA)

Created to promote the use of Ethernet in the First Mile subscriber access networks and support the IEEE 802.3ah standard process, the EFMA was founded by leading network infrastructure and service providers: Alloptic, Inc., Analog Devices (NYSE: ADI), BATM Advanced Communications, Calix, Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO), Elastic Networks (NASDAQ: ELAS), Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERICY), Extreme Networks (NASDAQ: EXTR), Finisar (NASDAQ: FNSR), Fiber in the Loop, Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT), Hatteras Networks, Infineon Technologies (NYSE: IFX), Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), NTT Group (NYSE: NTT), Paradyne (NASDAQ: PDYN), Passave Technologies, Spirent Communications, Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN), and World Wide Packets. For additional information about the Ethernet in the First Mile Alliance or membership, visit its web site at www.efmalliance.org.