DSL: Ascend Adds New DSL MAX 20 Access Concentrator to the Multi DSL Family of Solutions and Products - Ascend Communications - Product Announcement

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

Ascend Communications, Inc., a leader in wide area networking (WAN) and Intelligent Networking (IN) solutions for providers and users of the next-generation public network, today unveiled the DSL MAX 20, a compact and cost-effective Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) access concentrator that allows service providers to enter the Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU) and small office/home office (SOHO) markets with minimal investment. This entry level solution supports Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) and provides high-speed secured access over existing telephone wire within buildings or local loops, ideally suited for MDUs, small central offices, hotels and campus/enterprise applications.

The DSL MAX 20 is a space-saving solution that fits easily into any telephone closet or desktop in a building basement, allowing service providers to offer tiered services based on speed and application requirements of the users. The DSL MAX 20 uses multi-rate capabilities providing speeds ranging from 144kbps to 2.3Mbps.

Service providers can easily scale from 8 to 32 SDSL ports with the DSL MAX 20, as well as provide a wide variety of WAN interfaces (T1/E1 or DS3/OC-3/STM-1) to connect to the data network. In addition, it offers integrated routing capabilities and the highest throughput with an unprecedented 2.3 Mbps circuit speeds on each SDSL line and throughput of up to 20,000 PPS (packets per second).

"The Ascend DSL MAX 20 enables us to provide our smaller sized customers with high-speed DSL services that we can customize in the most profitable manner," said Scott Kozicki, chief technical officer of Blue Star Communications, a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC). "The form factor is ideal for the deployment environments that we're seeing, where space is a premium. Yet the form factor deceives the eye when it comes to the power and flexibility of the product in reaching our goal of profitable deployment without giving up Quality of Service."

For service and network management, the DSL MAX 20 utilizes simple network management protocol (SNMP) based on the Ascend NavisAccess network management system to offer service providers an end-to-end solution. This allows the service providers to remotely manage and monitor the Ascend DSL MAX 20 decreasing the cost of implementing an MDU solution.

"I'm pleased to see Ascend offer a solution specifically targeting the MDU market; most vendors re-package their high density central office DSLAMs as MDU solutions" stated Claudia Bacco, director of DSL products at Telechoice. "This compact DSL access concentrator has all of the features and functions necessary for the service provider to enter the MDU market with a very reasonable investment level."

Leveraging Ascend's reliable, feature-rich True Access Operating System (TAOS), the DSL MAX 20 offers integrated routing capability (Layer 2 and Layer 3) in a low end access concentrator, for enhanced service management and smooth integration into service provider networks.

"As an increasing number of institutions, hotels, and small companies worldwide look to deploy Internet and remote network access services at the customer premise, it is clear that the entry level DSL market will see a rise," said Susan Thomson, senior analyst at Gartner Group. "Cost-effective and easily deployable solutions will help fuel the integration of DSL networks in the smaller SOHO and multi-tenant markets."

"The DSL MAX 20 integrates the ease-of-use and flexibility of our compact scalable unit, with the high-performance and reliability of the TAOS operating system," said Kurt Bauer, vice president of product marketing, Access Switching Division, Ascend Communications. "As the Internet continues to push demand for access services, our DSL MAX 20 enables service providers to offer its smaller customers a full-featured yet manageable solution that supplies all the benefits of market-leading technology with simple deployment and provisioning features."

The DSL MAX 20 adds to the Ascend MultiDSL product portfolio by complementing the high-end DSL TNT access concentrator/router targeted at medium to large MDU's, campuses, hotels and central offices. In addition, the DSL MAX 20 is compatible with the Ascend DSL Pipe CPE product for SDSL and also supports other CPE vendors. Furthering the evolution of DSL, Ascend is responsible for the creation of IDSL.

According to Dataquest's report, Worldwide xDSL Market Analysis and Forecast for the first half of 1998, Ascend is ranked number two in SDSL ports shipped.

Pricing and Availability The DSL MAX 20 is available this quarter. U.S. list pricing starts at $495 per port and will vary according to product configuration. The DSL MAX 20, along with other Ascend DSL products, will support G.Lite in the future. Customers outside the U.S. should contact their local Ascend representative or reseller for pricing and availability information.

Ascend Communications, Inc. develops, manufactures, sells and services wide area networking solutions for telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and corporate customers worldwide. FMI: www.ascend.com