Next Generation Broadband Network Takes Shape for Progressive Maryland County; GDC & ARINC Deploy First Phase of Montgomery County Backbone

Business Wire, Jan 17, 2000

Business & Technology Editors

MIDDLEBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2000

General DataComm Industries, Inc. (NYSE: GDC) announced today completion of Phase One of a comprehensive Montgomery County, Maryland, program to build a multi-million dollar broadband network in this fast-growing community near Washington, D.C.

For its next generation broadband communications infrastructure, the county deployed 10 GDC APEX(R) ATM switches, about 5 percent of the total network that will be constructed over the next several years. Montgomery County, located in the rolling hills of central Maryland, is one of the nation's most affluent and best-educated communities, spanning 497 square miles with upwards to one million residents.

This extensive project is the responsibility of ARINC, Inc., a communications systems integrator, headquartered in Annapolis, MD. ARINC designed, developed and installed the network, termed "FiberNet", and is currently in the second year of a five year contract to connect all the county's facilities with an ATM backbone infrastructure using GDC APEX-NPX, IMX and MAC 1 switches for voice, video and data convergence. ARINC has contracted with GDC's VITAL Network Services organization to provide remote network monitoring management, maintenance and on-site service for the ATM backbone.

The GDC broadband network will create an interconnected web of communications links among public safety divisions, health care facilities and the educational teaching and administrative infrastructure.

The decision to select ARINC and GDC came after an extensive technical evaluation taking into consideration the need for efficient and economical delivery of advanced data communications.

Prior to FiberNet, the county had disparate communications infrastructures for voice, data and video. FiberNet combines each of these networks to reduce costs and boost communications services throughout the county. When implementation is complete, hundreds of government sites will be connected across the backbone.

For example, police officers in Montgomery County can simultaneously transmit data with greater speed and reliability, send and receive high-speed email, obtain telephone connectivity and participate in video conferencing. Additional agencies across the county will have access to these benefits as network installation continues.

Most recent developments include the testing and deployment of GDC's MPEG-2 interactive video to schools and county agencies. ARINC is supplying GDC's VIP-4 MPEG-2 module, a member of GDC's multimedia application suite for GDC APEX(R) switches.

The GDC APEX-NPX, IMX and MAC 1 multiservice switches belong to the GDC APEX family of multiservice platforms delivering ATM and legacy services in some of the world's most advanced and demanding networks. Key features of the GDC APEX family include:

- Concurrent support for multiple services including voice, data

and video;

- Cost-effective, leading edge AAL2 Voice over ATM;

- Integral multimedia interfaces including MPEG-2 video

capabilities;

- Frame Relay Switching and HDLC/SDLC transport over ATM;

- Circuit emulation to protect existing investment; and

- Native LAN interconnection and concentration.

ProSphere(R), a standards-compliant, open-architecture network management system, manages the GDC network. ProSphere consists of a series of element-level and network-level tools, which allow for topology and fault management, service provisioning and route table management.

About ARINC Inc.

ARINC develops and operates communications and information processing systems for the aviation and travel industries and provides systems engineering and integration solutions to the government and industry. Founded in 1929 to provide reliable and efficient radio communications for the airlines, ARINC is a $400 million company headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, USA with over 2,800 employees worldwide. For information on ARINC services or products, contact ARINC customer services at +1-800-633-6882 or visit ARINC's web site at www.arinc.com.

About General DataComm, Inc.

GDC (www.gdc.com) is a leader in the design, development and manufacture of multiservice communications systems for service providers and enterprise businesses. GDC APEX(R) multiservice switching platforms are used extensively within the world's largest public ATM Wide Area Networks, managed under a distributed, open network management framework, ProSphere(R). GDC's broad range of Advanced Network Access products provide DSL/Universal Access System solutions; Frame Relay Probes, integrated analog, DDS, wideband and broadband network access products; all managed under a distributed, open SNMP network management framework. GDC is headquartered in Middlebury, CT, USA, and has an extensive network of subsidiaries and partners located throughout North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim.

All GDC products mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of General DataComm, Inc., a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of General DataComm Industries, Inc.