Tellium Introduces New Optical Network Planning Software Tools for Network Operators; Demonstrates Cost-Effectiveness of Optical Switching.

OCEANPORT, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 17, 1999--

Tellium, Inc. announced today the release of two new network planning tools - PlaNet and StarNet.

The new tools offer service providers a way to cost-effectively plan new optical networks using the Aurora 32 and Aurora 512 as the core optical switching vehicles in their network.

Tellium's PlaNet - Planning Tool for Optical Networks - is designed to analyze customer network information to show how they can save capital equipment costs and recover precious floor space in overcrowded central offices.

Tellium's StarNet - Simulation Tool for Restoring Networks - simulates the actions of mesh restoration in the optical layer using the Aurora 512 as the core switching technology. Tellium's Web site, www.tellium.com, provides more detail and a simulation of mesh networking using Aurora Optical Cross Connects.

Tellium will be demonstrating PlaNet and StarNet at the National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference'99 (NFOEC) trade show in Chicago, September 27-30, 1999.

PlaNet iteratively optimizes the traffic routing across the entire network and plans the restoration routes for dynamic mesh restoration network architectures.

Tradeoff analysis and architecture choices are simplified by clearly displaying multiple scenarios at the same time. PlaNet demonstrates how optical switching can cost-effectively replace Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) multiplexers and older, low-speed digital cross-connect systems.

"The most valuable aspect of the tools is evaluating the economic tradeoffs of different network architectures and then dynamically simulating the results," said Nick DeVito, director of marketing and product management at Tellium.

"For example, if traffic growth rates are raised or lowered, you can see right away what impact the change has on the configuration and cost of the network. Customers are excited to see for themselves how Aurora Cross Connects can save them money and deliver services that support high-speed data applications."

PlaNet and StarNet are used as standalone optical layer planning and simulating tools. They work together with Tellium's Aurora optical cross-connect mesh algorithms to help customers design, deliver and execute high-speed mesh restoration in the optical layer.

PlaNet calculates the amount of restoration capacity required for mesh applications, and visually displays failed routes and restoration paths for individual links, based on actual traffic demand data.

Public Network Operator Testing Using PlaNet

In the following example, Tellium provided design and planning for a large public network operator. The tool showed savings of more than 50% using Aurora Optical Cross Connects to replace expensive SONET multiplexers/demultiplexers.

It also enabled the public operator to cap investment in older, low-speed digital cross connect systems. The result not only demonstrated that Tellium's optical switch significantly lowered the cost for equivalent capacity it also simplified the network to reduce operating costs.

Results from use of PlaNet for the public network operator's regional network of 23 central offices:

Traditional SONET Mux/DeMux $270M

(current configuration)

Aurora Based Optical Network $109M

Total Savings with Optical Networking $161M (59%)

Tellium Milestones

-- Tellium's Aurora 32 optical switch was launched in April 1998 and is the only working OXC successfully in service today in rings at MONET, the world's first operating fiber optical network.

-- Tellium announced, in spring of 1999, availability of the highest capacity optical layer switch available in the industry, the new Aurora 512.

-- In June 1999, the Aurora 32 received the International Engineering Consortium 1999 InfoVision Award annually given to a product for innovation, uniqueness, market impact, customer benefit and value to society.

-- At SUPERCOMM'99, Tellium announced a $250 million agreement with its first commercial customer, Extant Communications. Extant and Tellium will be building the world's first commercial network using optical layer switching as a key enabler to faster, more reliable services. Extant will begin deploying Tellium's Aurora 32 in eight US cities later this year and then will deploy the Aurora 512 in 2000.

About Tellium

Tellium is headquartered in Oceanport, New Jersey. In 1997, it became the commercial spin-off from Telcordia (formerly Bellcore), the one-time research arm of the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs).

Corporate investors include Telcordia, SAIC, Cisco Systems and Ortel Corporation, and financial investors include Oak Investment Partners, Accel Partners, Worldview Technology Partners and Blue Rock Capital Investors.

Tellium's optical cross connect product, Aurora 32, was the first-to-market in the telecommunications industry and, along with the larger Aurora 512, is the cornerstone network element of survivable mesh and ring optical networks. More information about Tellium can be found on the Internet at www.tellium.com.