NetPlane Introduces LTCS 4.0 Industry's First Integrated IP and Optical MPLS Software Solution; Early Releases Delivered to Seven Customers.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

WESTWOOD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 5, 2001

NetPlane(TM) Systems, the protocol software business of Mindspeed Technologies(TM), today introduced the latest release of its industry-leading MPLS software, LTCS(TM) 4.0 which offers the first comprehensive MPLS classical IP and optical solutions on a common code base.

Delivered to seven early customers, LTCS 4.0 also features full integration with OPTIRoute(TM), NetPlane's carrier class implementation for IP and optical routing.

"This latest version of LTCS is packed with an extremely rich feature set that focuses on supporting the current, key application needs of traditional IP and emerging photonic transport equipment," said NetPlane's vice president and general manager, Deepak Shahane.

"It addresses what is most important to our customers -- having a stable code base and a feature set they can use in a number of very strategic applications."

The key industry applications LTCS 4.0 focuses on include capabilities for classical IP applications, such as Traffic Engineering and Provider-Provisioned VPNs (PP-VPNs), Layer 2 tunneling mechanisms for metro optical networks, Generalized MPLS functionality for core optical network transport and Optical User Network Interface (O-UNI) for optical network access.

NetTest, an industry leader in the test and measurement of next generation optical networks, recently selected NetPlane's classical MPLS and GMPLS solution for its network emulation products.

"We've built our reputation on providing superior network performance testing for high-speed networks," said Ron Aharoni, director of marketing, Advanced Testing Solutions, NetTest.

"When it came to choosing MPLS and GMPLS solutions that allowed us to develop our powerful interEMULATOR for vendors to test the scalability of their devices and help carriers during their network planning, we selected an industry leader in NetPlane."

"While the long-term outlook is very promising for metro core optical transport equipment, equipment vendors face increasing pressure to provide products that satisfy a compelling ROI value proposition and offer incremental revenue streams.

"That goal is greatly aided by NetPlane's latest classical and optical MPLS solution that should enhance their leadership in this area," said Frank Bernhard, Ph.D., managing principal, OMNI Consulting Group. "NetPlane's solution also enables next generation equipment vendors to address the hurdle of designing technology that facilitates evolutionary integration and migration from currently deployed networks."

NetPlane is also working with leading vendors who represent 90 percent of the SONET/SDH market. These OEMs, some of which are included in the seven early LTCS 4.0 shipments, have provided valuable feedback on key product requirements and continued feature evolution as optical control plane standards mature.

NetPlane's LTCS (Label Traffic Control System(TM)) software is the industry's most widely deployed MPLS software and has been adopted by more than 65 network manufacturers. Its LTCS-Optical supports the signaling requirements of photonic networks including access to those networks by traditional IP equipment using LTCS-Classical.

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 4.0 has a high availability architecture.

Pricing and Availability

Available in December, pricing for LTCS 4.0 begins at $240,000 for new systems. Upgrade pricing is available for existing LTCS-Classical customers.

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 AcceLight Networks and VIPswitch. For more information, visit NetPlane at www.netplane.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains statements relating to future results of Conexant (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: maintaining a consistent and reliable source of energy; global economic and market conditions, such as the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; successful development of new products; the timing of new product introductions; the availability and extent of utilization of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; the successful separation of the company's Internet infrastructure and personal networking businesses; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; labor relations of the company, its customers and suppliers; and the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Other brands and names contained in this release are the property of their respective owners.

Note to Editors: NetPlane executives will be available to discuss LTCS 4.0 at NGN2001 in Boston, Nov. 5-6 at booth No. 214/216, as well as at a special corporate briefing, Nov. 6 at the show at 7 p.m. in the Suffolk Suite of the Copley Marriott.