Huawei-3Com Uses Spirent® Test System and Professional Services to Determine Performance Benchmark of Its 10G Multi-Service Core Routing Switch

Business Wire, Jan 23, 2006

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Spirent Communications (NYSE:SPM)(LSE:SPT) today announced that Huawei-3Com tested its Quidway S8500 10G Multi-Service Core Routing Switch using the award-winning Spirent SmartBits(R) Test System and Global Services.

After rigorous performance testing, Huawei-3Com has validated wire-line forwarding, low latency and no packet loss in a fully meshed topology.

"This test is significant to our customers around the world," said Wang Ainong, vice president of research and development department and director for Ethernet switch product lines at Huawei-3Com. "It demonstrates the industry-leading performance of our Quidway S8500 series core router switches. Testing with Spirent shows that Huawei-3Com's core router switch not only meets network buildout requirements, but also meets our customers' requirements for building future networks."

The Huawei-3Com Quidway S8500 series core router switch features high port density and scalability, supporting up to 576 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) or 48 10 GbE interfaces. In addition, the Quidway S8500 can provide wire-line forwarding capacity for MPLS-VPN networks, enabling service providers to set up converged networks for triple play services, while keeping costs down. Today, more than 5,000 S8500 core router switches have shipped around the world, including Spain, Brazil, Russia, Thailand and Japan. In China, the Quidway S8500 switch is widely seen in service provider, government, education, financial and public utility networks.

The Spirent SmartBits Test System enables network equipment manufacturers and service providers to accurately measure the performance and stability of routers and switches. The Spirent TeraMetrics XD four port fiber and copper 10/100/1000 Ethernet test interface provides wireline packet generation and analysis, along-side sophisticated QoS models for simulation of real-world network scenarios. Spirent Global Services provides empirical data and analysis so customers can make informed business decisions.

"In cooperation with Spirent Global Services, Huawei-3Com used industry standard test methodology and experienced test engineers to help validate their router switching capability," said Gene Zhang, vice president and general manager for Spirent Communications Asia. "Spirent test systems along with professional services allow customers to validate complex products and services within a defined timeframe and budget."

About Huawei-3Com

Huawei-3Com aims to achieve worldwide IP networking market leadership by providing global customers with a full range of networking products and solutions and fast, responsive and customized product development to meet the exact requirements of its partners and customers.

Huawei-3Com offers a full portfolio of IP-based networking solutions, including enterprise routers, switches, security, SOHO products, Voice/Video products and wireless LAN.

Huawei-3Com is an IP networking company, created as a joint venture by Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and 3Com Corporation.

About Spirent Communications

Spirent Communications (www.spirentcom.com) is a global provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technology such as Internet Telephony, broadband services, 3G wireless, global navigation satellite systems, and network security equipment. Spirent's solutions are used by more than 1,500 customers in 30 countries, including the world's largest equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprises and governments. Based in Rockville, Maryland, Spirent Communications reported 2004 revenue of $460 million and has 1,700 employees worldwide. The company is the largest business group of Spirent plc, traded on the London and New York Stock Exchanges (LSE:SPT)(NYSE:SPM)(CUSIP number: 84856M209). www.spirent.com. Spirent Communications' sales to the United States government are made through Spirent Federal Systems. www.spirentfederal.com.

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