PlusNet Launches Subscriber Service Portal Based on Ellacoya Networks' IP Service Control System; Industry's first subscriber self-service portal delivers customized subscriber usage data and self-service capabilities.

MERRIMACK, N.H. -- Ellacoya Networks(TM), Inc., a leading provider of carrier-grade deep packet inspection (DPI) service control solutions for broadband IP networks, today announced that Internet service provider (ISP) PlusNet (LSE: PNT.L) has launched the industry's first true subscriber self-service portal based on Ellacoya's IP Service Control System(TM). PlusNet, a leading ISP in the United Kingdom has launched the PlusNet Customer Service Portal that provides subscriber-specific usage reports by week, day, time-of-day, and application on the customer's own customized portal. The enhanced customer experience automates the management of, and changes to, usage quotas and offers self-service dynamic upgrades to existing PlusNet service plans. Future releases will consist of more comprehensive subscriber self-service capabilities including bandwidth-on-demand services and the choice of self-subscribing to more than 25 service plans based on different speed, usage, time-of-day, and application combinations.

"PlusNet has experienced considerable success offering different service plans for a broad range of subscribers and we are now taking the next step to enhancing the customer experience. The enhancement of our subscriber portal with usage measurement educates the customer on his own usage; it allows us to meet their expectations and enables them to choose the right service plan based on their specific needs," said Alistair Wyse, Technical Director at PlusNet. "The Ellacoya system provides the foundation for not only delivering subscriber usage data on a granular basis, by application and time of day, but for defining policies and enforcing them based on the individual customer's service plan. It has been a key to enabling our vision of automating the entire customer service life cycle, enhancing our brand, and establishing PlusNet as the leader in customized broadband services."

Ellacoya's IP Service Control System, consisting of high performance DPI switches and centralized Service Logic Software(TM) (SLS), has been deployed in PlusNet's network of over 190,000 broadband subscribers to manage individual subscriber traffic based on time-of-day, usage and applications as dictated by the customer's service plan. The system measures usage by application, subscriber and time-of-day and feeds that data through its well-documented application programming interface (API) to the individual customer's portal. In PlusNet's future product development, the Ellacoya platform will be used to define services and service plans in its centralized SLS, assign them dynamically to individual users at the subscriber's request, and apply quality of service (QoS) parameters based on specific applications and subscribers.

Alistair Wyse added, "Customer expectations for broadband services are changing and increasingly need to be fulfilled, without reliance on customer care personnel, through self-service and on-demand selection. The ability to dynamically manage bandwidth upon the customer's on-demand request and provide QoS for applications such as IPTV and VoIP, allows us to guarantee a superior customer experience for real-time and multimedia applications and offer the best service possible for all of our customers."

Since deploying one of the broadband industry's first tiered service models, PlusNet has seen strong subscriber and profits growth. Increasing usage of premium applications and adoption of new services make tiered service delivery an essential element of PlusNet's business model.

"PlusNet's subscriber service portal and its on-going strategy for customer self-service and dynamic QoS is a model of broadband service for the industry," said Gerald Wesel, Chairman and CEO for Ellacoya Networks. "VoIP, IPTV and triple play services are changing the rules for service providers in terms of business and service models, traffic management and subscriber management. PlusNet is leading the way to a new paradigm and we are very pleased to be part of such an innovative strategy."

About PlusNet

PlusNet is the UK's best value Internet Service Provider. It provides Broadband and Narrowband connectivity together with a host of related products that few ISPs can match. PlusNet is well-known amongst experienced Internet users for offering exceptional customer service and value for money - combining service reliability and outstanding support with the UK's lowest Broadband prices. For more information, visit www.plus.net.

About Ellacoya Networks

Ellacoya Networks is a leading provider of carrier-grade service control solutions that give broadband service providers full service control functionality for their networks. Its IP Service Control System identifies subscribers, classifies and controls applications on a per-subscriber basis, improves performance and customer satisfaction, and delivers revenue-generating IP services. Deployed in some of the world's largest carrier IP networks, it is the only company that provides the scalability and functionality necessary to enable more compelling applications and competitive service offerings. Ellacoya Networks is privately held and headquartered in Merrimack, New Hampshire. For more information contact us at +1 603.577.5544 or visit us at www.ellacoya.com.

Ellacoya Networks, IP Service Control System, and Service Logic Software are trademarks of Ellacoya Networks, Inc.