Tollgrade Partners with Minacom to Deliver Advanced VoIP Testing to DOCSIS(R)-Based Transponders and End-of-Line Probes.

MONTREAL -- Minacom

--Cable MSOs Can Perform True Voice-Channel Service Quality Testing Throughout the HFC to Tollgrade PacketCable(TM)-Based Transponders And End-of-Line Probes, Now Featuring Embedded VoIP Responder Technology from Minacom.

Minacom, the leading VoIP test solution provider for Cable MSOs, and Tollgrade, a leading supplier of network service assurance products, announced today a strategic alliance to deliver advanced, integrated testing solutions for VoIP over cable networks. Tollgrade's widely deployed DOCSIS(R)-based Status Monitoring Cheetah(R) Transponders and recently-released End-of-Line (EOL) probes will now feature embedded Minacom VoIP testing technology, allowing the units to act as responders for test calls placed by Minacom PowerProbe(R) 6000 test probes. Using Minacom's Patent-Pending softswitch integration, tests are conducted over actual PacketCable(TM) Dynamic Quality of Service (DQoS) voice channels, providing true user-perceived VoIP service quality testing throughout the hybrid fiber / coax (HFC) network.

An industry first, the integrated remote-testing solution can significantly reduce the time required to identify, isolate and diagnose VoIP service issues, while also providing proactive, real-time monitoring to detect service level degradation before quality issues affect subscribers. Test automation, results analysis, service level classification, fault management and reporting are controlled by Minacom's DirectQuality(R) R7 web-based OSS, already deployed by over 70 service providers worldwide.

Test calls use Minacom's award-winning VoIP testing technology to measure over 40 service quality measurements including speech quality (MOS), speech power, loss, distortion, clipping and noise, call connectivity metrics such as Post Dial Delay (PDD), as well as dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF / Touch Tone) transparency. Minacom's PowerProbes can be co-located with Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS), or installed in the IP or PSTN segments of a PacketCable network. Cheetah transponders are CableLabs(R) PacketCable 1.0 "Verified for Interoperability", and respond to and initiate PowerProbe test calls using an embedded E-MTA emulator.

The strategic alliance between Minacom and Tollgrade will focus on further developing and co-marketing integrated triple-play, service level test solutions for Cable MSOs and Telcos, helping them to provide the best possible VoIP, digital Video, and Internet services to their subscribers.

"Minacom service level automation solutions are based on true user-perceived service quality testing, allowing Cable MSOs to provision, monitor and troubleshoot large-scale VoIP deployments with the confidence that subscribers will enjoy the very best service quality from day-of-install onward. Tollgrade's integration of Minacom technology into their products allows operators to leverage this extensive test visibility throughout the HFC plant - where problems are most likely to occur and are most difficult to detect." commented Michel Nadeau, President & CEO of Minacom. "Tollgrade and Minacom solutions are widely deployed in leading Cable and Telco networks worldwide. By working together, we can effectively offer innovative test solutions that help our customers provision, troubleshoot and maintain large-scale VoIP deployments."

"Tollgrade's Cheetah Cable Solution is an industry first, integrating HFC, DOCSIS and PacketCable VoIP fault/performance data into a single system, instrumenting the HFC plant to test and measure the true customer experience. This unique multi-layered capability and VoIP test integration with Minacom provides a critical element of our customer's installation and maintenance process for cable broadband services," said Mark Peterson, Tollgrade's Chief Executive Officer.

Minacom DirectQuality R7 customers can test to Tollgrade products with the installation of the new PowerProbe Cheetah VoIP Test Agent, available for the PowerProbe 6000.

Minacom test solutions will be demonstrated at the SCTE CableTec EXPO, Booth #1931, 20-23 June. Michel Nadeau is an invited speaker on the panel "Maximizing VoIP Network Uptime", scheduled on the 22nd and 23rd of June. Tollgrade products will be on display at its display area booth #593. Both companies will be conducting live demonstrations of their integrated test solutions.

About Minacom

Minacom builds Service Level Test Systems for Telcos and Cable MSOs, and Internet Telephony Service Providers. Minacom's automated test systems help maintain the integrity and quality of large-scale multi-service deployments, including Voice, VoIP, IPTV, Caller ID, Voicemail, Conferencing, Fax, Dial-Up Modem, Video Conferencing, and IP Services from Ping and DNS to Audio & Video RTP Streaming.

Minacom systems are web-controlled by a centralized server platform that integrates years of operational experience into test setups, test strategies and result analysis rules used by over 70 operators worldwide including AT&T, Comcast, France Telecom, Liberty Global, Primus, Orange, Clearwire, VSNL and Bellsouth, as well as softswitch manufacturers such as Siemens, Cedar Point and Ericsson.

Experience Minacom's QoS test automation live at www.minacom.com/try.

About Tollgrade

Tollgrade Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of network service assurance products and services for centralized test systems around the world. Tollgrade designs, engineers, markets and supports centralized test systems, test access and status monitoring products, and next generation network assurance technologies for the broadband marketplace. Tollgrade's customers range from the top RBOCs (Regional Bell Operating Companies) and Cable providers, to numerous independent telecom, cable and broadband providers around the world. Tollgrade's network testing, measurement and monitoring solutions support the infrastructure of cable and telecom companies offering current and emerging triple play services. Tollgrade, headquartered near Pittsburgh in Cheswick, Pa., and its products and customer reach span over 200 million embedded access lines, more than any other test and measurement supplier.

For more information, visit Tollgrade's web site at www.tollgrade.com.

Minacom, Simplifying Service Assurance, DirectQuality, DirectCare, DirectReach and PowerProbe are registered trademarks of Minacom Labs, Inc. Cheetah is a trademark of Tollgrade, Inc. CableLabs, PacketCable and DOCSIS are trademarks of CableLabs. All other trademarks used in this document are the property of their respective owners.