PairGain's Avidia System Selected for Citizens Communications ADSL Deployment; Independent Telephone Service Provider Utilizes Avidia's Technological Advantages - Product Information

Cambridge Telcom Report, Oct 11, 1999

PairGain Technologies, Inc., a leader in DSL access systems, Tuesday announced that Citizens Communications, one of the nation's largest community-based telecommunications service providers, has selected the Avidia System for business and residential ADSL service deployment in Citizens Communications' Middletown, N.Y. facility and for consideration in other key markets. An ATM-based multifunction switch, the Avidia System offers Citizens Communications the technological and economical advantages of low-cost ADSL service provisioning, plus support of future DSL, IP and ATM services from a single multiservice platform. The agreement represents the continuation of a multi-year technology relationship with Citizens Communications and another big sale for the Avidia System.

"While rural markets are largely untapped for high-speed Internet services today, the opportunities for advanced telecom services are growing there as well," said Beth Gage, Director of Consulting at TeleChoice, Inc. "With the selection of a multiservice platform like the Avidia System, Citizens is recognizing the opportunities for additional, advanced telecom services beyond Internet access. Multiservice platforms streamline the addition of new communication services, enabling the service provider to quickly respond to market demand and yet, do so cost-effectively."

"The Avidia System was designed to be the cornerstone for tomorrow's access network, and Citizens Communications is definitely a leader in that evolution for rural America," said Mike Pascoe, president and CEO of PairGain. "We're extremely pleased that our relationship has grown to include the Avidia System, and we're looking forward to continuing that great relationship."

"Citizens Communications is committed to bringing the information age to the rural and suburban communities we service by continually exploring new technologies and offering products that help simplify our customers' hectic lives," said Rick Hildebrandt, Citizens Communications acting president. "For our Middletown, N.Y. consumers, as well as our business clients there, the Avidia System helps us fulfill that commitment by enabling us to offer our affordable Citizens Communications High-Speed Internet Service. It gives them the fastest route to travel the Internet -- no waiting to connect, no waiting to download information, no waiting for the phone to be available."

The Avidia System is a multiservice platform that enables carriers to immediately deploy next-generation services, including G.Lite and full-rate ADSL, from a single platform. It is based on a distributed ATM switching fabric that provides adaptation for IP traffic.

The Avidia System also supports SDSL, HDSL2, DS1 and IP voice services, in addition to ATM over ADSL and Ethernet frames over SDSL. Developmental work is ongoing to add frame relay services, which PairGain expects will be available in the near future. The system features superior reach, more than three times greater than comparable products, with unequaled capacity of 1,296 ports in a seven-foot bay. The Avidia System can be configured as a DSLAM, access server or LAN extension concentrator and is ideal for high-speed Internet access, telecommuting and private network applications. Only the Avidia System delivers the service flexibility, port density, deployment options and quality of service (QoS) guarantees necessary for widespread broadband network access, an ideal combination for independent service providers, CLECs, RBOCs, ISPs, PTTs and private enterprise owners worldwide.

Citizens Communications, a full-service, hometown telecommunications provider, is committed to bringing the information age to its one million rural and suburban customers in 13 states by offering a range of products -- from local and enhanced voice services, such as voice mail and Caller ID, to Internet access and high-speed data products. Citizens Communications also offers basic-telephone and long-distance services in all its markets and Internet, data services, cellular, cable television, paging and teleconferencing in selected markets. Citizens Communications is part of Citizens Utilities (NYSE: CZN, CZNPr), a growth company that also provides natural gas, electric, water and wastewater treatment services throughout the United States. Additional information about Citizens Communications is available on the Internet at www.citizenscommunications.com.

PairGain is the leader in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of DSL networking systems. Service providers and private network operators worldwide use PairGain's products to deploy DSL-based services such as high-speed Internet, remote LAN access and enterprise LAN extension.

For more than 10 years, PairGain has been recognized as a technology leader and industry innovator of telecommunications equipment. The Company offers the widest range of DSL-based systems available. Product lines include HiGain Solitaire HDSL2 solutions, HiGain T1/E1 access systems, PG-FlexPlus, PG-Flex and PG-Plus subscriber carrier systems, the Avidia System, Megabit Modems and Campus-HRS megabit access products. Well over 1.5 million PairGain DSL nodes are installed in over 70 countries. Additional information about the Company is available on the Internet at www.pairgain.com.