Paradyne's HotWire 8600 Multi-Services DSLAM Named Networld+Interop Finalist For Best Of Show In Wan/Internet Category

Business Wire, May 2, 1997

LARGO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 1997--

Industry's first stackable DSL Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) offers industry's lowest entry cost while enabling IP, Frame Relay and Channelized T1/E1 services on a single access platform. The new, cost-effective architecture allows Network Service Providers (NSPs) to immediately deploy services and capture new revenue.

Paradyne, a pioneer and leader in digital network access and DSL, today announced that its new HotWire(TM) 8600 stackable, multi-services DSLAM (list under $6,000) has been named by LAN TIMES and DATA COMMUNICATIONS magazines as a Networld Interop "Best of Show" finalist in the WAN/Internet category. According to the magazines, there are three finalists in each category selected out of hundreds of submissions. Finalists were selected on the basis of products representing technical innovation in the networking industry. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 6 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time during a special ceremony to be held in the Grand Lobby in the main entrance of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Designed to enable network service providers to quickly, easily and incrementally deploy new DSL-based services, the HotWire 8600 stackable, multi-services DSLAM supports Internet Protocol (IP), Frame Relay and Channelized (NxDS0) services on a single, scaleable platform. With the addition of the three new endpoints (starting at $495 U.S. list), Paradyne now offers the industry's most comprehensive array of endpoints - with a total of nine different HotWire endpoints to support a wide range of services and end user requirements.

According to Andrew May, president of Paradyne, the HotWire 8600 DSLAM allows NSPs to immediately deploy DSL services at a low initial cost and then grow the network according to customer demand and service type. The HotWire 8600 DSLAM easily scales up or down, supporting as few as four lines or as many as 68. And, each of the line cards in the HotWire 8600 may be used in Paradyne's high-end DSLAM, the HotWire 8800, which allows for low cost, future migration as the line count in a Central Office (CO) or Serving Wire Center (SWC), goes above 68. The combination of the HotWire 8600 and the HotWire 8800 allows NSPs to deploy DSL into both high density and low density locations at comparable per-line price points, encouraging rapid, wide-scale service deployment.

"We want to make it cost effective for every network service provider to deploy DSL services in every city -- and HotWire can make that happen today," said Frank Wiener, vice president and general manager of Paradyne's DSL products division.

In addition to the 8600 DSLAM, Paradyne has introduced the industry's most comprehensive portfolio of DSL endpoint devices. New HotWire DSL endpoint products include the industry's first Frame Relay endpoint, the HotWire 5500, and two new IP LAN extension / Internet Access devices, HotWire 5200 and HotWire 5400. Each of these products support symmetric services up to 1 Mbps and asymmetric services up to 2.56 Mbps. In addition, the HotWire 7900 series of T1 and E1 HDSL products and E1 SDLS products are now available for traditional T1 and E1 networks and the growing campus market.

"A major challenge for network service providers is cost-effectively meeting the needs of a wide range of end user requirements -- both in terms of service types and product feature and functionality," said Kieran Taylor, broadband consultant at TeleChoice Inc. "Support for multi-service applications will emerge to be a key requirement for DSL-based networks, and the HotWire 8600 is designed to address those needs."

The HotWire 8600 stackable DSLAM is a multi-services platform utilizing only 4.5" of vertical rack space. Up to six 8600's, each supporting from four to 12 DSL ports, may be stacked together and managed as a single entity. The 8600 supports both AC and DC power and is SNMP managed. All of Paradyne's HotWire products utilize existing copper telephone wires to transmit data at speeds of up to 2.56 Mbps - with speeds of up to 7 Mbps supported in the future. HotWire products enable service providers to build high-speed low-cost networks, utilizing existing copper telephone wires, consequently decreasing the price of access to their commercial and residential customers.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The new HotWire product suite will be showcased in Booth No. 5299 in the South Hall at Networld Interop in Las Vegas, May 6-8. The HotWire 8600 Multiservices DSLAM (U.S. List $5,985*) and HotWire Endpoints (U.S. List from $495 to $1,795) will be available beginning in May. Paradyne's HotWire systems are available through a worldwide network of distributors and Value Added Resellers (VARs). For more information on HotWire systems or other Paradyne products, call 800-PARADYNE or 813-530-2000, or visit Paradyne's web site at http://www.paradyne.com .

Headquartered in Largo, Florida, Paradyne is a leading developer and provider of products and technologies that facilitate high-speed access to networks worldwide for communications, computing and information. Recognized as the market leader in T1 CSU/DSUs(a), Paradyne is one of the largest, privately held manufacturers of network access products. Paradyne markets its award-winning analog products, digital access products and an extensive array of frame relay and TDM solutions to commercial end users, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Frame Relay Service Providers (FRSPs) and Network Service Providers (NSPs).