Terawave Communications Announces Global Trials, First Orders for Its Ultra-broadband Networking System; Global Service Providers Explore TeraPON as a Solution to the Internet Bottleneck

Business Wire, April 18, 2001

Business Editors and High Tech Writers

HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2001

Ultra-fast broadband Internet access got a boost today as Terawave Communications announced major customer trials and the first customer order for its innovative optical access product line, TeraPON(TM). Terawave said that the service providers selecting its technology for extensive trials include: C2C Fiber (Houston, TX); Shaw Communications (Canada); T-Nova Deutsche Telecom (Germany) and Singapore Telecom (Singapore). In addition, FiberLab, a leading systems integrator based in Taipei, placed a sizeable order for TeraPON equipment to be deployed by several service providers in Taiwan.

Phil McCall, Vice President of Global Sales for Terawave commented, "We believe that our optical access solution provides the answer for many service providers and subscribers struggling to overcome the access network bottleneck. The fact that we've initiated trials with both international and domestic carriers shows that our technology is a global solution to the World Wide Wait."

The TeraPON product line employs broadband passive optical networking (BPON), an emerging technology that greatly improves the affordability and efficiency of fiber optic cabling. With TeraPON, fiber becomes more economical to deploy in the access network, not just the telecom backbone. Widespread PON deployments would bring the ultra-fast broadband capabilities of fiber to small and medium-sized businesses and households throughout the world.

First Order

FiberLab says TeraPON is the broadband solution of choice for Taiwan's service providers looking to enter the market for high-speed Internet access.

"Terawave's PON system, incorporated into the existing fiber network maintained by cable television providers, will provide enough bandwidth to handle full two-way broadband communications," says Fred Shih, president of FiberLab.

Speed and Flexibility

TeraPON sets the industry standard for BPON technology in speed and flexibility. Unlike other products in the PON space, TeraPON can accommodate multiple types of networking protocols. In addition, TeraPON can transport two-way traffic symmetrically at a blistering 622 megabits-per-second (Mbps) on a single strand of fiber. Currently, the TeraPON product line incorporates the TW-600 Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and the configurable TW-300 Optical Network Terminal (ONT).

Other efficiency benefits offered by TeraPON include significantly increased port density (more subscriber network connections) and a Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) feature that gives service providers up to a twenty-fold increase in revenue opportunities.

Terawave Trial Partners:

C2C Fiber

C2C Fiber, Inc. is a pre-IPO regional telecommunications network developer and a facilities-based competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) and IXC in Texas, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Michigan and Nevada

FiberLab

FiberLab is a leading systems integrator specializing in the design, integration and installation of cable television, telecom and datacom systems.

Shaw Communications

Shaw Communications Inc. is a diversified Canadian communications company whose core business is providing satellite, broadband cable television and Internet services to approximately 2.3 million customers. Shaw also has significant interests in interactive television, e-commerce and telecommunications companies.

SingTel

SingTel is Asia's leading communications company with a comprehensive portfolio of services that include voice and data services over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms. Serving both the corporate and residential markets, SingTel is committed to bringing the best of global communications to its customers in the Asia Pacific and beyond. It has built the infrastructure that has helped transform Singapore into a global hub and is today the country's largest company in terms of market capitalization.

T-Nova Deutsche Telekom Innovationsgesellschaft mbH

T-Nova, the former technology labs of Deutsche Telecom, is a wholly owned subsidiary of T-Systems. T-Nova has specialized experience in integrating telecoms and IT- systems in the telecommunication, information technology, multimedia, entertainment and security markets. Deutsche Telekom AG founded T-Systems in order to bundle its IP/data and systems solutions for major corporations.

About Terawave Communications, Inc.

Founded in December 1998, Terawave Communications develops optical access solutions utilizing Passive Optical Network (PON) technology designed to enable service providers to cost-effectively deliver optical services. Terawave has created world-class competency in application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), optical system and component design, IP, TDM and ATM technologies, SDH/SONET, as well as network management systems. For further information, visit the company web site at www.terawave.com.

Terawave Communications and TeraPON are trademarks of Terawave Communications, Inc.