Spirent Communications Demonstrates Core, MPLS, IP Telephony and SANs Testing Solutions at NetWorld+Interop iLabs

Business Wire, May 8, 2001

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

Networld Interop 2001

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2001

Spirent Communications(TM) (Booth No. 7089) announces its participation in four testbeds at this year's interoperability labs (iLabs), featured at Networld Interop 2001 Las Vegas, May 8-10. Spirent will be participating in four out of five key technology focus areas in the iLabs, including the iLabs Core, MPLS, IP Telephony, and SANs demonstrations. The company will demonstrate the latest capabilities of its Adtech, SmartBits(R), Net-Hopper, and Zarak products, which test and analyze key elements of next generation networks.

"Spirent Communications is committed to providing the most comprehensive testing solutions to equipment manufacturers and service providers, which includes leveraging the synergies between different product lines, as currently being demonstrated in the iLabs," said Barry Phelps, president of Spirent Communications' Performance Analysis Division. "We are excited about continuing our work with the expert team of engineers in the iLabs and showcasing some of our most advanced test solutions for emerging technologies."

Spirent is providing integrated performance analysis with its Adtech AX/4000 Broadband Performance Analysis System and Net-HOPPER's Crystal-HOPPER optical matrix switch in the iLabs Core. The integrated solution can analyze the entire network from a single point, thereby reducing manpower and the number of ports needed for network troubleshooting and maintenance. It provides a cost-effective and efficient method for total network monitoring in the iLab Core, which serves as the network backbone for the iLabs, emulates real-world edge delivery and provides access to the Internet and Internet2.

The iLabs MPLS testbed will address potential interoperability issues in next generation networks and demonstrate traffic-engineering extensions of MPLS traffic. The Adtech AX/4000 and SmartBits 6000B will work together to evaluate the performance and conformance of network elements by generating and analyzing MPLS, LDP, CR-LDP and RSVP traffic. Spirent's combined MPLS test solution arms iLab test engineers with a tool to evaluate the viability and performance of the MPLS devices in the lab.

Spirent's IP Telephony demonstration underscores the synergy between its SmartBits SmartFlow(R) application, which measures throughput, latency, and Quality of Service, and the Adtech IP Wave application, which performs impairment testing in VoIP networks. Combined, the Adtech IP Wave and SmartBits SmartFlow(R) provide an accurate representation of how networks will react to impairments while maintaining QoS. The IP Wave application is also being used in two of the VoIP education seminars.

Spirent will also introduce the new Zarak Abacus SS7 interface in the IP Telephony demonstration area to generate and analyze SS7 traffic in a VoIP network and verify operability. The Abacus SS7 will be used to measure and monitor call quality and completion. Spirent's participation in the IP Telephony area highlights the company's commitment to advancing the state of IP telephony by addressing the transition from legacy telephony systems to IP-based systems and the coexistence of the two.

Spirent will unveil its SmartBits Fibre Channel interface and SmartFabric application in the SANs (Storage Area Network) area as a solution for testing and analyzing remote data storage, data throughput, QoS and protocol decoding in Storage Area Networks.

About Spirent Communications

Spirent Communications unites the best in performance analysis technology with network operations expertise. The company's award winning products and solutions enable customers to accelerate the development, deployment and assurance of next-generation network equipment and services worldwide.

Spirent Communications designs and manufactures Adtech, DLS, Edgcumbe, GSS, Hekimian, Net-HOPPER, SmartBits, TAS and Zarak products. More than 2,500 of the world's leading network and terminal equipment manufacturers, network service providers, corporate enterprises and test laboratories rely on Spirent's first-to-market products to verify and measure the performance and services of networks and communications devices. For more information on Spirent Communications or its products, visit the Web site at www.spirentcom.com or call 1.800.927.2660.

Spirent plc is the parent of Spirent Communications. Spirent plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange, ticker SPT. The company operates a Level 1 American Depository Receipt program (ticker: SPNUY; CUSIP number: 84856M100). For information, contact Brian Heston, The Bank of New York, American Depository Receipts, 101 Barclay St, 22 West, New York, N.Y. 10286, phone 212.815.3938, fax 212.571.3050, e-mail: bheston@bankofny.com, www.adrbny.com. Further information about Spirent plc can be found at www.spirent.com.