Harmonic Systems Used for First Deployment of High-Capacity 100-GHz DWDM Network by a Cable Operator.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

IBC 2002

Stand # 1.361

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2002

Telewest Installs New METROLink(TM) Transport System To Upgrade

Infrastructure For Extended Digital Service Offerings

In another example of the growing use of dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) technology, Harmonic Inc. (Nasdaq: HLIT) today announced that Telewest Broadband has installed Harmonic's METROLink(TM) DWDM transmission system in the upgrade of its system in the Southwest of England. With its ability to multiplex up to 32 wavelengths at 100-GHz (0.8 nm) spacing on a single fiber, the METROLink DWDM system enables Telewest to increase the capacity of its network and deliver narrowcast and multicast services to residential and business customers. Telewest's upgrade of its network represents the first ever deployment of 100-GHz DWDM solutions in the cable market.

The geographical area covered by Telewest's upgrade presented a unique set of challenges for implementing a balanced and scalable network architecture. First, the region is characterized by a mix of high- and low-density areas of population as well as short- and medium-distance links. Second, Telewest's existing network comprised several different architectures. A comprehensive DWDM system, Harmonic's METROLink solution provided the flexibility needed for a network that reaches both urban and rural areas. Harmonic's 100-GHz DWDM transmission solution integrated seamlessly into the Telewest environment using wavelengths that were below the window occupied by existing 1550-nm trunk transmitters. This approach gives Telewest the narrowcast/broadcast infrastructure required to support a variety of bandwidth-intensive voice, data and video services.

"Adoption rates of our voice and data services have necessitated an upgrade of our existing network infrastructure so that we can deliver interactive services more efficiently to our geographically distributed customer base and add incremental capacity in step with growing demand," said Chris Eccles, Telewest's Network Architect HFC. "Harmonic's DWDM technology leadership and proven solutions combined with its responsiveness and ability to meet our specific requirements made it the logical choice for this major initiative. The new 100-GHz METROLink solution integrated quickly and easily with our existing equipment."

Providers like Telewest are increasingly choosing DWDM-based architectures for their cost-effectiveness, scalability and flexibility. DWDM gives these operators the capacity needed to provision current and emerging interactive services. New capacity can be brought online incrementally to support new target services or to increase bandwidth for existing services. In the late 1990s, Harmonic became the first company to provide DWDM transmission systems to the cable market. Since then, Harmonic has established itself as a leading provider of these technologies, enabling broadband communications service providers to build balanced and scalable, pay-as-you-grow network architectures optimized to deliver a wide range of one- and two-way services.

"By upgrading to DWDM technology, Telewest has implemented a highly efficient architecture for cost-effectively delivering fast and reliable digital broadcast and narrowcast services," said Frank Patterson, Harmonic's Sales Director for UK, Middle East and Southern Africa. "Harmonic's open-standards-based approach allowed Telewest to rapidly deploy future-proof new technology that preserves its existing investments. What's more, the scalability of the architecture allows Telewest to add easily the capacity needed to support more customers and more applications as demand requires."

About Telewest Communications

Telewest Communications, the broadband communications and media group, currently provides multi-channel television, telephone and Internet services to more than 1.76 million UK households, and voice and data telecommunications services to over 73,000 business customers. Its content division, Flextech, is the biggest provider of basic channels to the UK pay-TV market and is the BBC's partner in UKTV, which has a portfolio of pay-TV channels based on the corporation's programming, including UK Gold.

About Harmonic Inc.

Harmonic Inc. is a leading provider of digital video, broadband optical networking and IP delivery systems to cable, satellite, telecom and broadcast network operators. Harmonic's open standards-based solutions for the head end through the last mile enable customers to develop new revenue sources and a competitive advantage by offering powerful interactive video, voice and data services such as video-on-demand, high-definition digital television, telephony and Internet access.

Harmonic (Nasdaq: HLIT) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The Company's customers, including many of the world's largest communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country. Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27 (a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21 (e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements related to growing use of DWDM technology, enabling Telewest to increase capacity and deliver services, and operators increasingly choosing DWDM architectures. In addition, actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors set forth in documents that Harmonic files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q.

Editor's Note: Product and company names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.