Acterna and Tellabs Alliance Speeds Optical Network Provisioning and Applications

Business Wire, March 19, 2001

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 2001

Acterna and Tellabs today announced that they have formed an alliance to help service providers quickly provision optical networks and test mission-critical broadband traffic applications.

Tellabs' TITAN(R) 6500 multiservice transport switch now supported by Acterna's CENTEST Broadband Test System (BTS) through Acterna's strategic alliance program.

"Tellabs works with industry leaders to provide customers with solutions that manage today's communications network and migrate to tomorrow's converged network," said Rich Tatara, Tellabs' vice president of global product marketing. "Acterna's interoperable test system complements the TITAN 6500 switch to help our mutual customers maintain high quality of service levels on significant volumes of broadband traffic."

Tellabs' TITAN 6500 system is a multiservice transport switch that enables carriers to cost effectively manage multiple services on a single platform.

It is the industry's only carrier-class transport system designed around a single, data-based switch fabric that uniquely routes synchronous optical network (SONET), asynchronous transfer mode and Internet protocol/multiprotocol label switching traffic mixes. This unique capability enables carriers to quickly provision services to increase revenue and lower networking costs.

"Acterna and Tellabs enable optical network carriers to realize enormous operational efficiencies," said Jim Shea, Acterna's vice president of marketing, Centralized Test and Management Systems Division. "With a single flow-through process, a network operator can automatically provision and test mission-critical optical services. Acterna is excited to be working with Tellabs to make this solution possible for our mutual customers."

Acterna's CENTEST BTS performs non-intrusive monitoring and intrusive testing of SONET and asynchronous services from an optical access point. This next-generation test system enables network operators to reduce dispatches when maintaining high-speed optical network-based services. It also enables users to accelerate revenue by provisioning these broadband services more quickly.

As a part of the CENTEST family, the CENTEST BTS seamlessly integrates with other CENTEST systems using the state-of-the-art NetAnalyst test operations support system software to provide operators with a consistent view for testing digital signal-0 (DS0) through optical carrier level-12 (OC-12) and beyond.

About Tellabs

Tellabs designs, manufactures, markets and services optical networking, next-generation switching and broadband access systems. The company also provides professional services that support its solutions. The company's products and services are used worldwide by the providers of communications services.

Tellabs stock is listed on the Nasdaq stock market (TLAB) and has its web site at www.tellabs.com.

About Acterna

Acterna is the world's second largest communications test company, focused entirely on providing test and management equipment, software, systems and services. With presence in 80 countries, Acterna helps customers develop, install and maintain their optical, cable, data/IP, access and wireless networks. Acterna is the world leader in optical and cable networks.

The company was formed by the May 2000 merger of TTC and Wavetek Wandel Goltermann, produces annualized revenue of more than $1 billion, and serves customers with 4,700 employees. Acterna is a subsidiary of Acterna Corporation (NASDAQ:ACTR).

Information about Acterna can be found on the Web at www.acterna.com.

Note to editors: All company or product names mentioned in this press release may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.