Telstra, Bellcore join to design full-service network for Australia

Business Wire, Feb 4, 1996

MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 4, 1996-- Telstra, the leading Australian telecommunications company, and Bellcore have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly design new software to manage a full-service, broadband communications network.

W. Frank Blount, Telstra's chief executive officer, today announced the MOU with Bellcore, the telecommunications software and consulting company, during his keynote speech at the prestigious International Symposium on Subscriber Loops and Services (ISSLS `96).

"The challenge of FSN is great, but Telstra will not shy from the potential of this technology for our customers," Blount said. "We are now committed to a design and trial of support systems for a full-service network with Bellcore. This is an exciting development and we look forward to working in partnership with Bellcore, who, like us, are intent on exploring the leading edge of communications technology."

Telstra selected Bellcore because of its established track record providing operations support systems to leading American telecommunications companies, and because of its commitment to providing products which will support the FSN environment.

Bellcore's president and CEO, George Heilmeier, said Bellcore and Telstra will adopt an open, end-to-end approach to the full-service network, using Bellcore's MediaVantage network-management software, and taking appropriate advantage of Telstra's existing systems.

"Bellcore is in the business of providing solutions based on the best interests of its customers, and not on any preconceived notion about what that best interest might be," Heilmeier said. "We're excited about working with Telstra, which clearly has decided to seize the day in the interest of all Australians."

Telstra is the major telecommunications provider in Australia with 9.2 million telephone access lines (in excess of 95 percent market penetration) and annual revenues of more than $14 billion (Australian dollars). Its cable television rollout has now passed more than 800,000 homes, as part of a four-year, $4 billion (Australian dollars) program to pass 4 million homes.

Telstra is meeting the future head-on by making the transition from a traditional telephone/telecommunications company to a provider of electronic communication and information services. More information about Telstra is available on its website, http://www.telstra.com.au.

Bellcore, which has more than 800 customers, has recently begun an aggressive international marketing program for its telecommunications expertise, backed up with ISO 9001 certification for its core software systems and its training organization, Bellcore TEC. Bellcore provides telecommunications software and consulting services based on world-class research. Bellcore makes information technology work for telecommunications carriers, business and governments worldwide. More information about Bellcore is available on its website, http:\\www.bellcore.com. -0- MediaVantage is a trademark of Bellcore.

CONTACT: Bellcore

Ken Branson

(201) 829-2165

(908) 850-3937

(evenings/weekends)

pager in North America:

1-800-778-3504

ludd@itc.cc.bellcore.com

or

Telstra

Gerry Tidd

011 613 9634 4539