Metro Ethernet Forum Certifies Telco Systems' T-Metro Ethernet Platform as MEF 9 Compliant; Certification Demonstrates 'Five 9s' Reliability in Service Oriented Environment

Business Wire, Jan 10, 2006

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Telco Systems, a provider of carrier-class transport and access solutions for public and private IP and TDM networks, today announced that its T-Metro Metro Ethernet access platform has been certified MEF 9 compliant by the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF). The test was designed to streamline conformance testing for network operators seeking reliable Ethernet services for their user communities, and ensures 99.999 percent reliability.

"I am pleased that Telco Systems has achieved the Carrier Ethernet Certification to MEF 9," said Nan Chen, president of MEF. "The continued momentum of the MEF Certification Program is a testimony of rapid adoption of Carrier Ethernet worldwide."

The T-Metro can work as an edge device that interconnects with both a traditional PSTN TDM circuit-switched network and an IP/MPLS core network, or as an integral part of the MPLS network. It supports a wide variety of interfaces that include both copper and fiber-based fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet and T1/E1 Circuit Emulation interfaces. The T-Metro is an excellent choice to provide Pseudowire T1/E1 and fractional T1/E1 (n x 64kbps) circuit emulation services over an IP/MPLS network, in addition to Ethernet Private Line service (E-Line), Ethernet LAN service (E-LAN), Internet access, Gigabit Ethernet, Ethernet switching and routing, and carrier class Ethernet rings with sub 50ms protection switching.

"Following rigorous testing, this certification demonstrates how robust the T-Metro Ethernet platform is, offering carriers a flexible solution that allows them to migrate safely to IP networks," said Dave Lee, vice president of marketing and services for Telco Systems.

To achieve the MEF 9 certification, the T-Metro was tested by Iometrix in accordance with the MEF-approved Test Plan for Ethernet services at the User Network Interface. Now with MEF-9 certification, service providers can focus important resources on customer-specific testing or other needs rather than compliance testing for T-Metro, which in turn increases their deployment speed.

"Telco Systems' MEF 9 certification will greatly help their carrier customers improve operational processes as Carrier Ethernet continues to evolve and enhance services," said Bob Mandeville, president and founder of Iometrix, the company responsible for the testing.

The MEF Certification Program helps service providers evaluate metro Ethernet equipment, and makes it easier to provide the key features of Carrier Ethernet: rapid service creation, smooth scalability to 10 Gbps, end-to-end protection, robust service level agreements, and flexible support for voice, Internet, and multicast traffic. MEF 9 certification seeks to test scalability, reliability, quality of service, TDM support and service management for Ethernet private-line, Ethernet multipoint-to-multipoint, and Ethernet virtual private-line usage in scalable environments. Additional MEF tests are being developed.

ABOUT TELCO SYSTEMS

Based in Foxboro, Massachusetts, Telco Systems is a leading provider of carrier-class transport and access solutions for IP and TDM networks for carrier, service provider and enterprise markets. Its suite of products includes solutions for Metro Ethernet Access Rings, residential and enterprise VoIP, FTTx, SONET, WiFi and T1 backhaul.

Founded in 1972, Telco Systems' focus is to maximize the power of their customers' networks by integrating transport, access and packet technologies onto industry-leading platforms that meet today and tomorrow's network demands.

Telco Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of BATM Advanced Communications (London stock exchange ticker symbol:BVC). For more information, please visit Telco Systems' web site at http://www.telco.com.