N.E.T. CellXpress Gives Multiservice Networks Access to ATM Services.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 1997--N.E.T. today announced the CellXpress(TM) ATM Module to provide integrated access for N.E.T.(TM) IDNX(R) multiservice backbone networks connecting to ATM services and networks.

This industry standards-based multiservice solution allows existing mission-critical traffic to be aggregated along with LAN and Frame Relay traffic and adapted for transport over ATM services. The new CellXpress module provides a great deal of flexibility provisioning services since the IDNX system's proven support for voice, data, video, LAN, SNA and Frame Relay can be extended to include ATM.

"As the ATM WAN market begins to come into its own, a key factor is the successful bridging of mission-critical traffic to the ATM broadband world," said Joe Francesconi, president and CEO, N.E.T. "The CellXpress ATM module extends the IDNX architecture to bridge this gap, and this juncture marks a new beginning as the multiservice bandwidth manager becomes a key point of presence for ATM networks. With this introduction, customers have the flexibility to use ATM, Frame Relay and TDM approaches according to the needs of each application. We continue to invest in our multiservice bandwidth manager and add new features to help customers retain value in their investment and confidence in the reliability of their networking applications."

The CellXpress ATM module lets customers take advantage of a global range of ATM services via T1/E1 and T3/E3 interfaces. Unique to the IDNX multiservice bandwidth manager, toll-quality PrimeVoice(TM) 16 kbps voice can be transported over an ATM network. ATM-to-frame relay network interworking according to the Frame Relay Forum's standard, FRF.5, is available. LAN traffic and legacy/SNA data traffic can be routed through the multiservice bandwidth manager directly across an ATM network. Inverse multiplexing over ATM can be used to take advantage of more cost-effective T1/E1 links where T3/E3 links are too expensive or just not available. Multiservice bandwidth management and CellXpress ATM access combine to provide guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS) for variable bit rate and constant bit rate traffic, such as voice and video, across an ATM network.

CellXpress also enables network managers to select the optimum transmission technology for the application. Network managers can take advantage of the cost-efficiencies of hybrid networking, utilizing carrier ATM, Frame Relay, T1/E1, T3/E3 or nx64 services where they make the most sense. Sophisticated QoS and traffic shaping reduces network congestion and results in higher applications availability for mission-critical traffic.

As part of the IDNX multiservice bandwidth manager, an extensive network management package is available. Combined with N.E.T.'s new PanaVue(TM) management platform, a comprehensive set of network management capabilities can be achieved including fault management, configuration, performance, accounting, and security functions. As part of the N.E.T. Vista Architecture, the PanaVue network management system provides fault correlation, diagnostics and other functionality for the entire N.E.T. Promina ATM and IDNX families of products.

The N.E.T. CellXpress ATM module is planned for availability in the third quarter of 1997 and will carry a price of $15,000 for T1/E1 trunks and $22,000 for T3/E3 trunks. The CellXpress ATM module will be available through N.E.T. and selected distributors on a worldwide basis.

N.E.T., headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., is a leading worldwide supplier of multiservice backbone networks used by enterprises and global carriers in more than 50 countries. N.E.T. multiservice WANs and ATM products integrate voice, data, and video traffic with ATM, frame relay, LAN internetworking and ISDN capabilities for today's mission-critical applications. The company is certified to the worldwide ISO 9001 standard for design, manufacturing and servicing. Join us at our worldwide web site: http://www.net.com for further information.

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Note to Editors: N.E.T., CellXpress, and PanaVue are trademarks, and IDNX and the N.E.T. logo are registered trademarks of Network Equipment Technologies, Inc.

CONTACT: N.E.T.

Julie DiBene, 415/780-5745