Telco Systems' T5 Compact Outperforms Cisco's Catalyst 2950G-48 in Tolly Group Testing

Business Wire, May 6, 2002

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

FOXBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2002

Telco Systems, a leader in network edge technology and IP switching platforms, today announced the test results of The Tolly Group's evaluation of the T5 Compact versus Cisco's Catalyst 2950G-48 in Layer 2 throughput performance.

The T5 Compact is a hybrid switch that offers 48 10/100 Fast Ethernet copper ports and two Gigabit Ethernet fiber uplinks. The Cisco switch also offers 48 10/100 Fast Ethernet copper ports and two fixed Gigabit Ethernet Interface Converter (GBIC)-based 1000BaseX uplink ports. Testing of the two products was performed in March 2002.

The Tolly Group evaluated the steady state, zero-loss (less than/equal to 0.001%) bidirectional (full-duplex) frames per second (fps) throughput of both switches using 64-, 512- and 1,518-byte frames in a fully loaded system configuration.

Highlights of the test include:

-- Telco Systems' T5 Compact delivers double the aggregate Layer 2 packet
throughput of Cisco's Catalyst 2940G-48 across a variety of frame sizes tested.


-- Telco Systems' T5 Compact forwards 100 percent of the theoretical maximum of
64-, 512-, and 1,518-byte frames compared to the Cisco Catalyst 2950G-48 at 47
percent to 49 percent.

-- Telco Systems' T5 Compact offers price/performance that is more than 2.75
times better than the Catalyst 2950G-48.

"For optimal network utilization, it is crucial for network managers deploying Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet to know that the devices can deliver zero-loss throughput when handling bi-directional data," said Moshiko Levhar, director, IP product line management, Telco Systems. "The T5 Compact's test results merely strengthen our position as an industry leader and reinforces our commitment to our customers to deliver the best technology with the best cost performance."

"Telco Systems' T5 Compact delivered double the throughput of the Cisco switch, proving that the T5 Compact outperformed Cisco's Catalyst 2950G-48 convincingly in every throughput test performed," said Kevin Tolly, president and CEO, The Tolly Group.

In compliance with The Tolly Group's Fair Testing Charter (FTC), Cisco Systems executives were invited to provide a higher level of technical support for this series of tests. Cisco executives declined to participate. Also in accordance with the FTC, test results were shared with Cisco executives who neither acknowledged nor disputed their accuracy.

Complete test results are available upon request and online at http://www.telco.com/products_solutions/Products/edgelinkT5Compact.cfm

About the Tolly Group

The Tolly Group, an independent testing and strategic consulting organization based in Manasquan, N.J., offers a full range of services designed to furnish both the vendor and end-user communities with authoritative and unbiased information. Additionally, The Tolly Group is recognized worldwide for its expertise in assessing leading-edge technologies. For more information on The Tolly Group's services, visit its Web site at www.tolly.com, E-mail inquiries to info@tolly.com, call 1-732-528-3300 or fax at 1-732-528-1888.

About Telco Systems

Based in Foxboro, Massachusetts, Telco Systems combines over 25 years of experience in carrier solutions with a rapidly expanding portfolio of enterprise solutions.

Telco Systems provides industry leading solutions for 10/100 Mbps and Gigabit Ethernet over fiber, VDSL solutions for the MTU/MDU market, the broadest possible range of multi-layer IP platforms, and the company's EdgeLink family of integrated access, multi-service access and multi-service broadband transport products for seamless migration from circuit-based equipment to emerging packet and cell technologies.

Telco Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of BATM Advanced Communications. BATM (London stock exchange ticker symbol: BVC) is a worldwide leader in designing and supplying IP packet-based systems, such as high-capacity, self-routing switches with extensive QoS.

For more information, please visit Telco Systems' web site at www.telco.com and BATM Advanced Communications' web site at www.batm.com.