Texas A&M University Develops Demo to Show VoIP-based Lawful Intercept Capability.

SS8 Networks, Acme Packet and Pen-Link Contribute Technology That Demonstrates How to Comply with Federal Requirements in Simple, Cost-Effective Solution

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A live demonstration of a lawful intercept solution at a recent conference showed how institutions can simply and effectively comply with federal requirements mandating interception of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications.

The lawful intercept (LI) demonstration, developed at the VoIP research facility at Texas A&M University, proved that LI could be accomplished without expensive changes to a network's existing switch infrastructure. A demo of the technology was shown by Texas A&M at the ESCC/Internet2 Joint Techs Workshop hosted this February by the University of Minnesota.

"The university community is concerned that complying with federal LI requirements will be difficult and expensive," said Dr. Walt Magnussen, Texas A&M University's Director of Telecommunications. "Minimizing this difficulty and expense will require innovative work with the best available tools. With a few weeks work, we were able to build a solution that meets the compliance standard for voice intercept. We are still looking into the data collection requirements."

The LI demo was performed in front of a conference audience using two cell phones and the same collection function equipment that law enforcement uses. The remainder of the equipment operated remotely from a Texas A&M lab. The demonstration included technology from SS8 Networks, Acme Packet and Pen-Link and accurately reflected real-world intercept activity, with targets and associates using the network on the move, law enforcement remotely receiving information in their offices and the network elements performing the intercept within the network.

Since the Texas A&M lab is a research facility, each company donated their respective equipment, including SS8's Xcipio intercept platform, Acme Packet's Net-Net session border controller and Pen-Link's Pen-Link8 reporting and analysis software, to make this lab a reality.

"This demonstration makes a powerful statement that lawful intercept compliance is not beyond reach for universities and smaller carriers," said Stephen Gleave, SS8 vice president of marketing. "SS8 and our partner companies believe that meeting federal lawful intercept requirements is more than a legal requirement; it's a societal obligation to assist law enforcement agencies with the business of public safety."

A recent ruling by the FCC under the Communication Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) declared that VoIP service providers must provide lawful intercept access to law enforcement agencies. The FCC ruling notes that any VoIP service provider connected to the public phone network and enabling calls to and from it must be CALEA compliant by May 14, 2007.

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University is the seventh largest institution of higher learning in the nation, with an enrollment of more than 45,000, including approximately 8,400 studying at the graduate level, pursuing degrees in more than 100 fields. Its 2,500-member faculty is nationally and internationally renowned, with winners of the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, World Food Prize and other top awards among its ranks. The university is nationally ranked for enrollment of National Merit Scholars (136 in its current freshman class), its research (totaling more than $550 million annually) and size of endowment (more than $4.4 billion). It is one of a select few institutions to hold triple federal designation as a land-, sea- and space-grant university. It is the first public institution of higher learning established in Texas, opening for classes on October 4, 1876.

SS8 Networks

SS8 Networks, headquartered in San Jose, Calif., is an independent provider of carrier-grade, regulatory-compliant electronic surveillance solutions that have been deployed on all continents for the largest wireline, wireless, cable, VoIP and satellite service providers. These voice and data installations can already intercept more than 500 million subscribers, and serve over 10,000 law enforcement agents. SS8's expertise in communications forensics ensures that intercepted traffic is securely targeted, seized, stored, transferred and analyzed, so that evidentiary chain of custody is maintained for successful criminal prosecution. For more information, please go to www.ss8.com.

Acme Packet

Acme Packet, the leader in session border control solutions, enables service providers to deliver trusted, first class interactive communications--voice, video and multimedia sessions--across IP network borders. The company's Net-Net family has been selected by over 360 service providers in 75 countries to satisfy critical security, service assurance and regulatory requirements in wireline, cable and wireless networks, and customers include 23 of the top 25, and 72 of the top 100 service providers in the world. For more information, contact Acme Packet at 781 328-4400, or visit www.acmepacket.com.

Pen-Link

Pen-Link Ltd. focuses entirely upon lawful interception solutions for law enforcement. The company has developed two core software products for telecommunications intelligence collection, recording, monitoring, analysis, and reporting: Pen-Link 8 and LINCOLN 2. Together, these two software technologies provide a complete system solution for any electronic surveillance, including wire line, wireless, satellite, VoIP and IP. Pen-Link products are used by the DEA, Department of State, Homeland Security, FBI, hundreds of state and local law enforcement agencies as well as over 30 countries abroad.

NOTE TO EDITORS: SS8 Networks is a registered trademark of SS8 Networks Inc and Xcipio is a trademark of SS8 Networks Inc. All other company names and marks may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.