High-Speed Network Bridges Deliver Megabit Speeds Over Conventional Copper Lines.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 1998--WaiLAN Communications Inc., a leading supplier of advanced data communications and networking products, today announced a high-speed, single-pair DSL network bridge that interconnects Local Area Networks and provides network-level Internet access over ordinary standard copper telephone wire.

Called the AGATE 200, the bridge operates at full-duplex symmetrical speeds of 2.32 Mbps at distances up to 29,000 feet (5.49 miles) over the ordinary copper wire used to link telephones to central switching offices.

AGATE 200 bridges are especially well adapted for use as high-speed interconnections between several different Ethernet-based Local Area Networks such as those found in the different buildings and complexes of a university campus or corporate headquarters. They are also well suited as high-speed gateways to an ISP backbone circuit at unprecedented communication speeds -- almost 100 times faster than any analog modem now on the market.

"The federal government is about to launch a major program to integrate school facilities and bring all educational institutions onto the Internet," said Michael Sadetsky, WaiLAN marketing manager. "The AGATE 200 offers the speed, reliability and low cost needed to interconnect different schools within a same school district or to link different buildings within a school campus using existing copper wiring."

AGATE 200 modems can transmit and receive data at speeds that will support Ethernet transmission rates, he added. "Now users can extend the capability of their Local Area Networks without making costly and time-consuming investments in dedicated T1 or fiber optic lines," he said.

The AGATE 200 network bridge comprises a short-haul modem, CPU and memory, FLASH ROM, and network management and routing software. It is based on Multi-rate symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (MSDSL) technology that supports very high-speed symmetrical communications to the office, home or campus at a very reasonable price. It is also possible to balance host-computing resources by allocating limited bandwidth to select lines. Less than full data rates can be assigned to those users that do not require the full bandwidth.

AGATE 200 network bridges can also be used to interconnect Ethernet-based Local Area Networks to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). "Most local telephone offices are generally well within the effective range of AGATE 200 network bridges, making it easy for multiple Ethernet LAN users to access a single ISP over a single high-speed twisted-pair copper line," he said.

Moreover, he added, "Forty-five percent of the ISP business is in the hands of smaller companies. The AGATE 200 will let these ISPs configure individual, high-performance systems for their customers, and will give them more leverage in the highly competitive ISP market."

The new bridge is the latest in a series of high-end interconnections announced by WaiLAN. Other network bridges offered by the company include:

-- AGATE 800: This 7 Mbps bridge supports symmetrical

transmission through an Ethernet port. It also provides a 6

Mbps serial port for interactive video transmission. The

device will operate up to four miles.

-- AGATE 850: This bridge operates symmetrically at 7 Mbps

through its Ethernet port, and incorporates 6-Mbit serial

ports for video applications and T1/E1ports. The device has

an operating range of four miles.

-- AGATE 701/702: This device operates asymmetrically at up to

7 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream. The bridge will

operate at distances up to four miles and incorporates both

Ethernet and serial interfaces.

Both the AGATE 800 and the 850 are based on WaiLAN's proprietary Rate Adaptive DSL (RADSL) called WaiDSL. This technology provides unprecedented symmetrical 7 Mbps communication speeds and cost-effective connectivity. WaiLAN's symmetrical design, the ability to send data in both directions at full speed, sets the AGATE 800 apart from other DSL solutions -- while offering performance at fiber optic quality over copper pairs, and repeaterless connectivity over four miles.

"The AGATE product family offers far more functionality and user benefits than any other remote LAN connectors or network bridge -- at no increase in price," Sadetsky added. "With our technology we achieve symmetrical, full-duplex transmission and optimize the use of existing copper wire pairs." By transmitting above the voice spectrum over a wide band of frequencies, Sadetsky added, it is possible using today's advanced digital signal processors to achieve data rates in excess of 7 Megabits per second symmetrical transmission -- more than 200 times the speed of a common 33.6 Kbps modem.

Prices for the AGATE 200 start at $1299. The bridge is available now directly from WaiLAN or through selected VARs.

WaiLAN Communications, Inc. develops and markets a family of network extension and DSL products applicable for interconnectivity, as well as the Internet services deployment markets. The company is committed to producing products that are easy to install, use and maintain, and to providing excellent customer support. WaiLAN was founded in late 1996, and is headquartered in San Jose, Calif.

CONTACT: WaiLAN Communications Inc

Michael Sadetsky, 408/452-8081

or

Shotwell Public Relations 

John Trifari, 408/727-4356