Westell And Alcatel Microelectronics Announce Integration of Alcatel DynaMiTe Technology Into Westell DSL Equipment - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, August 23, 1999

Westell Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: WSTL) announced Tuesday that it has designed, tested and made available Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) that incorporates Alcatel Microelectronics' DynaMiTe ADSL chipsets.

The extensive effort, that began earlier this year, will allow Westell WireSpeed modems and WireSpeed ADSL Routers to interoperate and function fully with Alcatel-compatible network equipment. The interoperability covers end-to-end solutions and will enable applications such as high-speed internet access, delivery of broadband multi-media technology, streaming video and corporate LAN access.

Westell's WireSpeed modems and WireSpeed ADSL Routers share an existing office or home phone line to provide reliable, high-speed, Internet connection at downstream data rates of up to 8 Mbps and upstream data rates of up to 800 Kbps. Westell's WireSpeed modems are "plug and play" and require little user configuration. With Westell's WireSpeed ADSL Routers, multiple users can share a single Internet connection as well as dynamically select between multiple service providers or corporate LANs. To ease configuration, Westell's ADSL Routers use a web browser interface, thereby eliminating the need for a separate console port. Westell's WireSpeed modems and WireSpeed ADSL Routers are software upgradeable to provide investment protection as network requirements evolve. The initial set of products, designed for full rate ADSL service will also incorporate the recently standardized ITU recommendations for G.Lite ADSL.

"Westell is pleased to offer advanced CPE that employs Alcatel Microelectronics' technology," stated Brian Henrichs, Vice President and General Manager of Westell's CPE Business Unit. "Small business customers and residential users with multiple computers will be able to take advantage of the features of our WireSpeed products. Carriers and ISPs will be able to rely on the Westell reputation for high quality designs that minimize operating costs, and the benefits of interoperability."

"The Alcatel Microelectronics DynaMiTe chipset is the basis for interoperability and multi-standard compliance in the ADSL market," said Didier Boivin, General Manager, Alcatel USA Microelectronics Division. "Market leaders like Westell have chosen DynaMiTe for its ease of use and Alcatel's time-to-market focused support as well as the value it can bring to their customers and end-users."

Alcatel builds next-generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 21.3 billion ($25.0 billion), Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on Internet: http://www.alcatel.com.

Westell Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is a holding company for Westell, Inc. and Conference Plus, Inc. Westell, Inc. manufactures and licenses DSL systems and value added CPE, and manufactures telecommunications access products. Conference Plus, Inc. is a multi-point telecommunications service bureau specializing in audio teleconferencing, multi-point video conferencing, broadcast fax, and IP multimedia conferencing services. Additional information can be obtained by visiting Westell's Web site at www.westell.com.