VDSL: Nortel Networks Adopts Broadcom's VDSL Technology in Its Universal Edge 9000-based VDSL Broadband Access Network; Broadcom and Nortel Networks Enable First Canadian VDSL Roll Out - Broadcom's BCM6010 transceiver - Product Information

EDGE, On & About AT&T, March 15, 1999

Broadcom Corporation, a leading developer of integrated circuits enabling high-speed broadband communications to the home and business, Monday announced it is providing the Very high-speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) technology used in the Nortel Networks' Universal Edge 9000-based VDSL Broadband Access Network.

The Universal Edge 9000 is a voice and data integrated, high-speed multimedia solution for Central Office (CO), Digital Loop Carrier (DLC), and Fiber-to-the-Node (FTTN) deployments. Service offerings include integrated POTS, ISDN, Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), G.Lite, and other xDSL services. The VDSL service offered by the Universal Edge 9000 platform delivers digital television, high-speed Internet access, video teleconferencing, and multiple IP data business services over existing telephone lines. Lab trials with several major U.S. and Canadian telephone companies are currently underway with field trials expected mid year.

Nortel Networks has incorporated the Broadcom BCM6010 Scalable DSL Transceiver into its Universal Edge 9000 VDSL service offering currently under development. The Broadcom BCM6010 was the result of a joint collaboration between Broadcom and Nortel Networks. It is the world's first single-chip solution supporting VDSL deployment from the Exchange, Cabinet or Optical Network Unit (ONU), and is currently the enabling technology for 450,000 lines of VDSL service being deployed by US West in Phoenix, Arizona.

"We view Broadcom as a strategic supplier in our deployment of VDSL technology," said Don Richmond, Nortel Networks' Vice President and General Manager, Access Networks. "Our earlier joint collaboration with Broadcom has allowed us to build a VDSL solution that is tightly coupled with the features and capabilities of the BCM6010. This strong relationship with Broadcom will enable us to roll out a cost- effective, reliable VDSL network solution for our customer."

"We are pleased to see our DSL relationship with Nortel Networks continue to build momentum," said Dr. Henry T. Nicholas III, Broadcom's President and CEO. "We view VDSL as an important market and believe that it will continue to grow as a major factor in promoting a competitive environment for broadband service delivery. Our unique scalable technology enables Broadcom to service the residential and business markets with on-demand bandwidth. When combined with our rate-adaptive solutions, Broadcom is well positioned to deliver reliable, high-speed access in the most demanding situations."

The Universal Edge 9000 VDSL offering enables service providers to upgrade an existing narrow-band plant with a broadband overlay or offer integrated voice and data for new deployments. The BCM6010's integrated feature set, coupled with its low-power requirements, enables the fiber-fed Universal Edge VDSL platform to simultaneously deliver voice, data, and digital video over existing telephone wires. The flexibility of the Universal Edge 9000 platform will enable service providers to deploy broadband, multimedia services to high, medium, and low density serving areas. The Universal Edge VDSL Network Terminal offers customers up to 26Mbps downstream and 3Mbps upstream of data services though its Ethernet 10BASE-T and ATM-25 ports.

The BCM6010 is a rate-adaptable solution that supports Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL), ADSL, and VDSL data rates. In VDSL applications, the BCM6010 supports data rates up to 52 Mbps in Fiber-to-the-Curb (FTTC) networks and data rates up to 26 Mbps in Fiber-to-the-Node (FTTN) networks. The flexible bandwidth management capability of the BCM6010 also enables VDSL services to be delivered side-by-side with ISDN or ADSL services on the same telephone line, which enables service providers to deploy a full suite of high-speed services in their distribution plant.

Nortel Networks delivers value to customers around the world through Unified Networks solutions, spanning mission-critical telephony and IP-optimized networks. Customers include public and private enterprises and institutions; Internet service providers; local, long-distance, cellular and PCS communications companies, cable television carriers, and utilities.

Nortel Networks had 1998 revenues of US$17.6 billion and has approximately 75,000 employees worldwide.

Broadcom Corporation is a leading developer of highly integrated silicon solutions that enable broadband digital data transmission to the home and within the business enterprise. Using proprietary technologies and advanced design methodologies, the Company has designed and developed integrated circuits for some of the most significant broadband communications markets, including the markets for cable set-top boxes, cable modems, high-speed networking products, direct broadcast satellite and terrestrial digital broadcast, and digital subscriber line (xDSL). Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and may be contacted at 949-450-8700 or at http://www.broadcom.com.