NetPlane Announces O-UNI Option for Its LTCS Optical Software, Expanding Optical Signaling Extensions to Its Carrier-Class MPLS Software.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

Opticon 2001

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 13, 2001

Working With Several Key Customers To Refine Standards-Based Solutions

NetPlane(TM) Systems, the protocol software business of Mindspeed Technologies(TM), today announced that it is adding to its LTCS(TM)-Optical software the O-UNI protocol based upon the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) User-to-Network Interface (UNI) specifications.

Announced at Opticon 2001, the company also said that it has several key customers who are working with it to define specific functional applications.

The O-UNI specification is important as it offers a level of reliability that carriers require while enabling them to implement more cost-effective optical applications.

For example, O-UNI will enable carriers to develop new flexible services, such as user-initiated service provisioning and bandwidth trading, by providing a standard set of control plane mechanisms across all types of optical networks, supporting rapid connection, teardown and restoration capabilities.

"Our development of O-UNI is designed to facilitate the OIF's work and match our product release with the timing of the OIF's O-UNI 1.0 final draft, expected in the October/November timeframe," said NetPlane vice president and general manager Deepak Shahane.

"Based on input from key OEM manufacturers, and given the ongoing evolution of O-UNI, we decided to take a measured product release approach," Shahane added. "We did this to minimize the amount of code changes for our customers, and to ensure that our solution has the level of reliability that carriers require. That is our number one priority."

In June, NetPlane introduced LTCS-Optical with support for the G-MPLS (Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching) standard being developed by the IETF (International Engineering Task Force). Future planned releases will support emerging standards for optical NNI as they are defined by the IETF, OIF and the ITU-T. NetPlane is actively providing input into these organizations.

The new O-UNI option provides additional optical extensions to NetPlane's widely deployed MPLS-LTCS (Label Traffic Control System(TM)) software, the industry's first IETF standards-based MPLS solution, which has been adopted by more than 60 network manufacturers.

LTCS-Optical supports the signaling requirements of photonic networks including access to those networks by traditional IP equipment using LTCS-Classical.

NetPlane's recent launch of LTCS-Optical marked the beginning of its strategy for integrated signaling and routing, both for classical and optical IP networking. Its LTCS-Optical software is designed for carrier-class optical core devices and applications where packetized MPLS and optical MPLS signaling converge.

The portable NetPlane software is highly scalable, designed for centralized and distributed environments and is processor independent. Like all NetPlane carrier-class products, LTCS-Optical has a redundant architecture in conjunction with a re-entrant implementation to enable pre-emptive, high-availability systems to be created.

NetPlane introduced its MPLS-LTCS software in 1999. The company's MPLS customers range from the world's largest global manufacturers to emerging next-generation OEMs.

Note to editors: NetPlane executives will be available to discuss LTCS-Optical with O-UNI Option Aug. 13-14 at Opticon, where they will be at booth No. 115, or at an Opticon Corporate Briefing, Aug. 13 from 6:40 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Meeting Room C of the San Jose Convention Center.

About NetPlane Systems

NetPlane Systems Inc., a business of Mindspeed Technologies(TM), the Internet infrastructure business of Conexant Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CNXT), is a leading developer of portable, networking protocol software and systems for the control plane.

More than 250 equipment manufacturers worldwide, which are developing products for the next-generation Internet and other data communications and telecommunications networks, employ NetPlane's software.

NetPlane's technology expertise includes MPLS, GMPLS, IP Routing, ATM, PNNI, Frame Relay and Simulation Test Tools, with a focus on carrier-class capabilities required by the service provider marketplace. NetPlane's Label Traffic Control System(TM) (LTCS) was the industry's first available MPLS software solution.

Known for its technology innovation and the superior functionality and quality of its products, NetPlane's solutions enable customers to accelerate time-to-market, streamline the development process, lower life cycle costs and reduce development risks.

The company's customers range from the world's leading networking manufacturers like Nortel, Lucent Technologies, Alcatel, Fujitsu, NEC, Siemens and Ericsson to emerging next generation equipment manufacturers, such as Sirocco Systems and Ennovate Networks. For more information, visit NetPlane at www.netplane.com.

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