NetPlane Unveils Software That Provides Key Link for Building Traffic Engineered IP and Dynamic Optical Networks; Brings Vision of Next Gen Broadband Networks Closer To Reality.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

WESTWOOD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 22, 2002

NetPlane Systems, the protocol software business of Mindspeed Technologies(TM), today announced availability of a software suite that enables OEMs to deliver Quality of Service (QoS) in IP networks and support routing requirements in optical networks, critical to deployment of next-generation networks.

The OPTIRoute(TM) Traffic Engineering Suite represents the first off-the-shelf protocol independent software solution for the implementation of Traffic Engineering, providing the necessary linkage between IP routing and Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (G-MPLS). Several customers have received delivery of this feature.

"Traffic engineering in IP networks is of increasing importance, as service providers strive for higher network utilization, reliable quality of service and shorter provisioning cycles," said Dr. John P. Ryan, principal and chief analyst, RHK. "This is the job that NetPlane is targeting with their OPTIRoute Traffic Engineering Suite. This is a crucial job, a missing link that bridges the worlds of routing and signaling."

Traffic Engineering has two main applications in emerging networks. It enables explicit paths to be calculated through IP networks to deliver Quality of Service, enabling QoS reliant applications. In optical, and layer 2 metro Ethernet networks, it provides a mechanism to store information about link characteristics, such as bandwidth, latency etc., and dynamically calculates paths through the network based on this information. Both approaches use IP routing to disseminate Traffic Engineering information through the network, and use G-MPLS to signal the connections. The "missing link" has been the traffic engineering database to store the information and a constrained shortest path first (CSPF) engine to calculate the paths.

"This solution provides the critical integration of packet and optical routing and signaling and constitutes another important piece of the puzzle of how to move forward in the building of dynamic optical networks," said Deepak Shahane, vice president and general manager of NetPlane Systems.

"Carriers would benefit in two ways, first, by being able to offer new revenue generating IP-based services based not merely on best efforts, but on QoS, and secondly, by being able to reduce operating expenses in provisioning these services. A key advantage of this approach is the gain in bandwidth efficiency because paths are calculated automatically instead of manually. On the optical side, it opens up the ability for carriers to deliver new services, such as optical Virtual Private Networks (O-VPNs)."

NetPlane's OPTIRoute Traffic Engineering Suite is comprised of a Traffic Engineering Database (TED) and a CSPF engine. While it supports existing routing protocols, OSPF and IS-IS, it is not technology specific and is easily extensible beyond these standards without requiring modification of the code. It provides online and offline calculation capabilities, enabling "what if" scenarios to be executed in realtime, without affecting network operation.

When NetPlane introduced OPTIRoute last year, it was the industry's first portable IP routing solution optimized for carrier-class applications. Based around an extensible, modular framework, OPTIRoute contains a suite of routing protocols that can be compiled, enabled and configured as separate components. This modular nature enables future enhancements, emerging standards and new protocols to be included without compromising the integrity of an existing OPTIRoute implementation.

NetPlane offers a number of high-performance source code packages that can be easily integrated into virtually any new or existing system, encompassing MPLS, IP Routing, ATM and frame relay. The company's Label Traffic Control System(TM) (LTCS(TM)) was the industry's first available MPLS software solution and continues to be the industry's most widely deployed MPLS software. NetPlane also provides high-value system level software that performs non-standards-based functions, such as managing high-availability components and managing the communication between cards, as well as managing the process of accepting and placing calls in switches.

Pricing and Availability

Available and shipping, pricing for OPTIRoute Traffic Engineering Suite begins at $100,000.

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(TM)) 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. For more information, visit NetPlane at www.netplane.com.

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