Zhone Unveils First Local-Loop Platform to Integrate ATM, DSL, POTS, And T1/E1 Services.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2000

Broadband Access Node Delivers Any Service

from Any Network to Any Subscriber

Making good on its promise to provide total delivery solutions for local-loop networks, Zhone Technologies, Inc., today announced the Broadband Access Node (BAN(TM)), the industry's first local-loop platform to integrate and provision voice, data, and content services over multiple network media.

A key component of Zhone's Single Line Multi-Service (SLMS(TM)) architecture, the BAN is the world's first product to incorporate a voice gateway, a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), a Digital Loop Carrier (DLC), a Digital Access Cross Connect System (DACS), a Subscriber Management System (SMS), a mutliplexer (MUX), IP routing, and edge switching within a single unit. The BAN liberates service providers from the pain of piecing together and managing multi-platform, multi-vendor solutions to deliver advanced services by providing unified aggregation, provisioning, and management of POTS, T1 or E1, T3, DSL, and ATM connections in a single, centrally manageable device.

"Service providers are facing a Catch-22 situation today," said Jeanette Symons, vice president and chief technology officer of Zhone Technologies. "Customer demand for new services is extreme, but each new service requires the provider to add a single-function, piece-part element to its network: Class 5 switches for voice, T1 or E1 aggregation devices for leased-line services, DSLAMs and subscriber management systems for broadband. Thus, as service sales increase, providers are seeing their margins decrease. By combining voice, data, and content service provisioning and management into a single solution, the BAN increases service flexibility and improves service delivery while reducing network overhead."

"We selected the BAN for our first DSL trials because it's the only platform that allows us to enhance our broadband service offerings through DSL today while enabling other broadband options in the future," said Pete Wills, president and COO for PSINet. "We are looking forward to this partnership because Zhone has a proven track record of responding to customer input with specific features that help improve services and network efficiency."

Multi-Service Aggregation at the Edge

The BAN is revolutionary because it is the first major infrastructure component to serve as a single provisioning and management system for voice, data, and content services. The BAN allows providers to provision any network service -- and satisfy every customer need -- on demand, without costly and time-consuming truck rolls.

Through a combination of voice and data Application Specific Processors (ASPs), TDM trunking, ATM trunking, SDSL/HDSL2, and 10/100 Ethernet cards, the BAN architecture is designed to work with any access media. Initial interfaces range from 10/100 Ethernet to DS-3 and OC-3. The BAN also supports both Point-to-Point Protocol over ATM (PPPoA) and PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE) service terminations, to fit naturally into any service provider infrastructure.

The BAN is the only product that incorporates a DSLAM, voice gateway, and subscriber management functionality and provides any-in, any-out support for up to three boxes per seven-foot rack at 2.3 Mbps each, or various combinations of voice and data ports. It interfaces to the Class 5 switch in a central office using proven GR-303 or V5-2 technology to provide cost-effective, native support for legacy voice services. With the BAN, providers can offer POTS voice, packet voice, and data over a single line, allowing the greatest choice of services over each connection.

The BAN also supports both voice over IP (VoIP) and voice over ATM (VoATM) on a single interface card. By enabling providers to switch easily between transport models, the BAN serves the greatest number of customers with the smallest possible footprints.

Key Component of Zhone SLMS Architecture and Management Solution

The BAN is a key part of Zhone's Single Line Multi-Service (SLMS(TM)) architecture, which allows service providers to connect copper, fiber, and coaxial physical access media through a single integrated infrastructure, with a single, consistent interface from which to diagnose, troubleshoot, provision, and bill across all services. The BAN serves as a line aggregation and termination platform and can be used in single Point-of-Presence (POP) or Central Office (CO) implementations, or in distributed network deployments.

In single-POP deployments, the high-density, multiservice BAN maximizes service provider revenues and ensures fastest time to market. Adding a new service is as simple as clicking a mouse. As providers scale their networks, they simply connect new channels directly to the BAN, eliminating older, less-efficient network elements; saving valuable CO rack and floor space; and enabling flow-through provisioning.

In large-scale deployments, the BAN works in conjunction with Zhone's Multi-Access Loop Carrier (MALC(TM)) devices to provide distributed access to local-loop services. While the MALC aggregates and grooms traffic for DS-3 or OC-3 backhaul to regional data centers, the BAN performs translation services (voice compression, protocol translations, and network gateway services), IP termination services, and subscriber management services.

The Zhone Management System (ZMS(TM)) integrates all SLMS components with a service provider's existing Operations Support System (OSS). ZMS manages the entire distributed network, allowing unified provisioning, management, and billing. With ZMS, carriers can provision, monitor, and manage their entire multi-service local-loop infrastructure from one console.

BAN Availability

The BAN is currently undergoing beta testing in carrier networks and is available immediately to select customers.

For more information about Zhone's SLMS architecture and ZMS, see the following related announcements, also released today:

-- "Zhone Announces SLMS Architecture for Local-Loop Integration"

-- "Zhone Announces Industry's First End-to-End Management System for Local
Access Networks"

About Zhone Technologies, Inc.

The Zhone Technologies, Inc. strategy combines existing solutions with Zhone's intellectual property to create a portfolio of scalable next-generation network products supporting a rich array of voice, video, Internet, and entertainment services. The company was founded by the senior management team that grew telecommunications pioneer Ascend Communications, Inc., from its startup roots to the multi-billion-dollar company acquired by Lucent Technologies (NYSE:LU) in September 1999. Zhone's advanced networking solutions include the Single Line Multi-Service architecture (SLMS(TM)), Zhone Management System (ZMS(TM)), Broadband Access Node (BAN(TM)), Sechtor(TM) universal voice gateway, and access products.

For more information about Zhone and its products, please visit the Zhone Web site at www.Zhone.com or e-mail [e-mail].

Note to Editors: Zhone, the Zhone logo, and all Zhone product names are trademarks of Zhone Technologies, Inc. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective holders. Specifications, products, and/or product names are all subject to change without notice.