Samsung Electronics' and Starent Networks' PDSN System Completes Rigorous SK Telecom Certification; First Next Generation Platform to Receive Prestigious Certification.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

TEWKSBURY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 2003

SK Telecom of Korea awarded its network certification to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. with the Samsung Mobile Access Gateway 400 (SMAG 400 which is the Starent ST16 Intelligent Mobile Gateway). The certification process evaluates product performance, service capabilities and carrier-grade robustness in a thorough lab environment and in live network tests.

Obtaining the certification was applauded by Dr. Myung Sung Lee, vice president, Network R&D Center/Mobile Lab.TF of SK Telecom. "The SK Telecom certification process is a comprehensive examination of products that includes several important performance criteria to ensure that network elements offer the highest quality experience possible for our subscribers," said Dr. Lee. "Samsung's high capacity Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) system, the SMAG 400, performed exceptionally well and scored very high on all our criteria."

SK Telecom is considered a global leader in next generation mobile communication service deployment, with over 15 million subscribers. The carrier was the first in the world to deploy CDMA cellular phone service as well as the first CDMA2000 1X network based largely on Samsung's CDMA2000 system. Additionally, SK Telecom offers Video Phone, VOD (Video On Demand), and AOD (Audio On Demand) with the world-first CDMA2000 1X EV-DO network.

The tests were conducted in SK Telecom's certification lab in Bundang, South Korea. SK Telecom has invested significant resources and dedicated staff to this world-class testing facility. The lab features powerful simulation capabilities as well as the latest networking and radio access equipment to provide an environment that can stress the limits of mobile networking technology.

Starent Networks and its partner, Samsung Electronics, collaborated to ensure the success of the certification test. "We are very pleased to receive SK Telecom's network certification while cooperating with Starent Networks. We believe this to be the first significant step in successfully obtaining core network system business with SK Telecom. Furthermore, Samsung is making its best effort to provide top-notch core network system products to SK Telecom", said Pil-Young Kim, vice president of the Telecommunication Systems Division of Samsung Electronics.

The testing consisted of two phases. The first was a comprehensive lab test that included nine functional categories. These categories include: basic platform function, call processing, accounting, statistics, redundancy, capacity, call transaction (call set-up and tear down), throughput, and manageability (ease of use). The final results placed the SMAG 400 (Starent ST16 Intelligent Mobile Gateway) as the highest scoring next generation PDSN tested with a near perfect score.

The second phase of testing consisted of live deployment within SK Telecom's network. The multi-day test required the SMAG 400 platform to process tens of thousands of actual subscriber calls. The traffic included simple IP, Mobile IP, Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) and Video Phone - across both CDMA2000 1X and 1X EV-DO radio networks. Again, the SMAG 400 received scores at the highest levels of the testing criteria.

"We are excited to receive SKT certification which is regarded as an industry benchmark," said Ashraf Dahod, president and CEO of Starent Networks. "Furthermore, it demonstrates the technical excellence and robustness of our ST16 platform."

About SK Telecom

SK Telecom is Korea's leading provider of information and telecommunications services spanning Mobile Services, M-Commerce, overseas operations and subsidiaries. SK Telecom's SPEED 011, Korea's leading cellular service brand, NATE wireless Internet service and multimedia service, which offers Video Phone, VOD (Video On Demand) and AOD (Audio On Demand) for CDMA2000 mobile phone users, are providing unrestricted access to communication anytime, and anyplace. SK Telecom already has established a presence in China, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe and the USA. The company, which has extensive experience and technology related to first-generation analogue and second-generation CDMA wireless communications, is leading the race to develop the third-generation IMT-2000 system and services. For details, please visit http://www.sktelecom.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunications, flat panel display and digital convergence technology. Samsung Electronics employs approximately 70,000 people in 87 offices across 47 countries. The company is the world's largest producer of memory chips, TFT-LCDs, CDMA mobile phones, monitors and VCRs. Samsung Electronics consists of four main business units: Digital Media Network, Device Solution Network, Telecommunications Network and Digital Appliance Network Businesses. The company web site is located at http://www.samsung.com.

About Starent Networks

Starent Networks designs and develops next generation intelligent mobile infrastructure equipment for 2G, 2.5G and 3G wireless networks. Starent Networks' solutions provide voice, always-on high speed data and integrated voice/data capabilities to mobile operators, facilitating the delivery of unique services and a rich user experience. The company is processing 20 patents on its innovative technologies. The privately held company is headquartered in Tewksbury, Mass. with offices in Beijing, Chicago, Kansas City, Tokyo, Sao Paulo and Pune, India. Starent Networks was founded in August 2000. For further information visit www.starentnetworks.com.