Redback Announces Agreement With EarthLink to Deploy Subscriber Management System 1000 in Leading ISP'S Data Center

Business Wire, Sept 7, 1999

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 1999--

Redback Subscriber Management System(tm) (SMS) 1000 Leveraged to

Optimize Provisioning Times and Member Services

Redback Networks, (Nasdaq:RBAK) the leader in broadband subscriber management systems, announced today that EarthLink, (Nasdaq:ELNK) one of the world's leading Internet service providers, has signed a contract to purchase Redback's Subscriber Management System (SMS)TM 1000 and associated service.

EarthLink will use SMS 1000s at its Pasadena, Calif., headquarters to provide a consistent operational model for all the broadband services it will offer, including Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable, and Fiber to the Curb (FTTC).

One Platform for Multiple Access Technologies

EarthLink will use the SMS 1000 to scale its broadband networks to support thousands of new and existing members from its Southern California home base. For DSL access, EarthLink has one of the industry's only national DSL solutions, as well as having agreements with two regional network providers. For Fiber to the Curb, EarthLink offers its customers Sprint's FTTC service in selected areas. Additionally, EarthLink and affiliate Charter Communications have teamed to offer cable modem service to members in California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Missouri.

"We are network agnostic about the way our members access our services, and we try to use equipment that fits our approach," said Dr. Richard Edmiston, senior vice president of research and development at EarthLink. "Redback gear fits in with our philosophy, because it also is agnostic to present or future technologies. In addition, the SMS 1000 will allow us to reduce operational costs, because we only need to buy one system to handle multiple broadband technologies."

"EarthLink has integrated the SMS 1000 into a cutting-edge implementation of broadband technologies that can accommodate any need," said Dennis Barsema, president and CEO of Redback. "Redback's focus on providing equipment that can handle multiple access method and scale quickly to a large number of subscribers perfectly complements EarthLink's approach to the market."

Easy Provisioning across All Technologies

EarthLink has integrated PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE) client software into its own installation software. Because connections established by Redback's PPPoE server implementation appear as standard PPP sessions, EarthLink can use its existing RADIUS-based, dial-up authentication and billing infrastructure. This makes it easier to provision services to support multiple members across dial-up DSL, cable, and FTTC connections. In addition, since a single broadband connection can support multiple members and a large number of PPP sessions, the SMS 1000 provides EarthLink with a greater return on investment. PPPoE also makes it easier to configure customer premises equipment (CPE).

"Redback's PPPoE capability simplifies things for us, since all of EarthLink's existing systems are based on PPP," said Edmiston. "The use of PPPoE is a sign of product maturity, and it enables us to ease the transition between our current dial-up model and our broadband model, since there is no need to rebuild our authorization and provisioning services."

About EarthLink

EarthLink is one of the world's leading Internet service providers. Through its unified EarthLink Sprint Internet access service, the company makes the Internet relevant and productive to more than 1.3 million individuals and businesses every day. Headquartered in Pasadena, Calif., EarthLink provides a full range of innovative access, hosting, and e-commerce solutions to thousands of communities internationally from more than 2,300 points of presence.

EarthLink and Sprint Corporation (NYSE:FON) have formed a broad business relationship to create an Internet service with the potential to reach millions of new customers. Sprint is a global communications company and one of the world's largest carriers of Internet traffic. Information about EarthLink and EarthLink Sprint services is available by calling 800/395-8425 and through EarthLink's Web site at www.earthlink.net.

About Redback Networks, Inc.

Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Redback Networks, Inc., is a leading provider of advanced networking solutions that enable carriers, cable multiple system operators (MSOs), and service providers to rapidly deploy high-speed broadband access to the Internet and corporate networks. The company's Subscriber Management System (SMS) connects and manages large numbers of subscribers using any of the major high-speed access technologies such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable, and wireless.

The SMS 1000, the first product in the SMS family, received Best of Show honors for WAN and remote access equipment at Networld Interop, Las Vegas, in May 1998, and it was honored by Telecommunications Magazine as one of the "Lucky 13" hot products in telecom at the 1999 SuperComm show in Atlanta.

Note to Editors: Redback and the Subscriber Management System are trademarks of Redback Networks, Inc. Other trademarks, service marks, and trade names belong to their respective owners.