Turnstone Adds ISDN and POTS Testing Features to the Copper CrossConnect CX100 - Turnstone Systems - Product Announcement

Cambridge Telcom Report, April 10, 2000

Turnstone Systems (Nasdaq: TSTN) announced Tuesday, a suite of new loop testing features now available for the Copper CrossConnect CX100 Loop Management Platform. These new features enhance a service provider's ability to deploy, maintain and troubleshoot both new wideband services as well as legacy narrowband services provisioned on the copper plant. The CX100's feature set now includes support for ISDN and Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) testing. Turnstone continues to lead the way by focusing on tools and solutions required for a complete local loop management platform.

The Copper CrossConnect CX100 now offers the tools required for cost effective deployment and maintenance of ISDN based services. ISDN DSL (IDSL), an unswitched version of ISDN, is being widely deployed to offer data services to customers beyond the typical reach of other DSLs, or are served by a Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) system. Because of loop repeaters and DLC deployments, IDSL offers many unique challenges to the service provider. Turnstone addresses these challenges by offering ISDN maintenance mode and embedded operations channel digital testing for IDSL circuits. The service provider can now remotely identify, troubleshoot and isolate problems that in the past required the effort of skilled central office and field technicians. The CX100 can now be used to not only verify the metallic integrity of the circuit but also identify and troubleshoot loop equipment, such as ISDN line cards, repeaters, and CPE equipment to remotely identify and isolate circuit anomalies. The Copper CrossConnect CX100 will identify and test IDSL equipment on the loop to quickly isolate and troubleshoot problems for accurate dispatch and rapid resolution.

The Copper CrossConnect CX100 has also complemented its physical layer metallic testing capabilities with additional POTS support. Many voice service providers are adding high-speed data services based on DSL technology. These emerging Integrated Communications Providers (ICPs) desire a best-of-breed loop management platform that can handle remote provisioning and maintenance for digital services, as well as traditional analog voice services. Turnstone has added new features to the CX100 to provide remote access, testing and management support for POTS loops. The Copper CrossConnect can now verify and isolate faults on the switch and loop side of a POTS circuit. These tests can all be controlled remotely from the Network Operations Center without dispatching technicians to the field.

"The Copper CrossConnect CX100 modular architecture and unique position in the network enable service providers to easily deploy new loop management features on the CX100," said Eric Hedlund, product manager with Turnstone. "Turnstone continues to focus on cost effective solutions for both digital and now legacy local loop services."

Turnstone Systems, Inc. develops the Copper CrossConnect family of products, a comprehensive solution for deploying and maintaining copper local loop facilities The Copper CrossConnect CX100 enables DSL service providers to reduce time and costs associated with deploying and maintaining DSL services. Turnstone's CrossWorks software enables service providers to integrate the Copper CrossConnect CX100 functionality into their back-office Operational Support Systems (OSS) for scalable DSL service offerings. Turnstone is based in Mountain View, California, and has sales offices in Massachusetts, Colorado and Illinois. For more information about Turnstone, visit www.turnstone.com.