ADSL: Ascend Adds ADSL Over ATM Solution to the MultiDSL Line of Products. Ascend Delivers High-Speed CellPipe Router for the SOHO Markets Delivering ADSL to Service Providers' ATM Infrastructures - Ascend Communications' CellPipe 50A - Product Announcement

EDGE, On & About AT&T, May 3, 1999

Ascend Communications, Inc., a leader in wide area networking (WAN) and Intelligent Network (IN) solutions for providers and users of the next-generation public network, today unveiled its CellPipe 50A, a high-speed asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) over asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) router that utilizes the existing single-pair copper to combine data, voice and video traffic over an ADSL line.

The Ascend CellPipe is a customer premise equipment (CPE) router that integrates routing and bridging capabilities for deployment in service provider networks.

The CellPipe joins the Ascend MultiDSL product portfolio by offering cost-efficient high-speed access for applications such as Internet, intranet, videoconferencing, and Web hosting for telecommuting and small office/home office (SOHO) users in the customer premises.

Leveraging Ascend's award-winning Pipeline technology, the CellPipe offers a full-featured ATM router for high-bandwidth remote network connections. The Ascend CellPipe combines the reliability and robust feature-set of the Pipeline product line with ATM interoperability and Quality of Service for a comprehensive next-generation ADSL solution.

"Choosing the Ascend CellPipe router, which is based on their award-winning Pipeline, was a logical decision given the success we've had with their Pipeline products. Our customers depend upon the resilience of the Pipeline, and our technicians enjoy the familiar interface and easier configurations of the CellPipe," said Dewey Coffman, vice president of Sales & Marketing for Jump Point Communications, a Texas-based service provider.

"The CellPipe is loaded with features that offer unsurpassed reliability, manageability and that are easy to configure. Ascend's dedication to ADSL technology is a testament to the public's interest in the growing DSL market."

Through Ascend's feature-rich True Access Operating System (TAOS), the CellPipe offers integrated SecureConnect firewall for ironclad security and virtual private networking (VPN) capabilities for enterprise customers.

"By offering both ATM and frame-based DSL solutions, Ascend provides flexibility for its customers," said Laurie Falconer, DSL Analyst for TeleChoice, Inc. "The CellPipe product itself has the flexibility to provide virtual circuits for businesses or a point-to-point connection in residences with the full QoS functionality."

"As the majority of the world's largest service providers run their networks

on multiservice ATM backbones, Ascend has a great opportunity to offer their end-to-end ADSL solutions both domestically and internationally. Ascend's CellPipe delivers a cost-effective high-speed ADSL solution that rounds out its MultiDSL product line," said Greg Naderi, market research analyst, Frost & Sullivan.

Benefits of the CellPipe 50A: * Scalable high-speed solutions. Ascend's CellPipe features an interface that allows high-speed connections over a single twisted pair and more than eight virtual circuits (VCs) with high-speed asymmetrical data rates of up to 8Mbps downstream and 640Kbps upstream. The CellPipe is expandable to additional sessions through software upgrades.

* Traffic Shaping. The CellPipe implements traffic shaping on a per VC basis. Each VC may be configured for bandwidth and priority to suit a particular application.

* Comprehensive TAOS security and VPN capabilities. The CellPipe provides integrated SecureConnect firewall for ironclad remote networking and VPN capabilities. Support for user authentication makes it easy to manage the security of large-scale remote access applications.

* Ease of use with plug-and-play capabilities. Built-in configuration protocols enable users to get their CellPipe units up and running with minimum time and frustration.

* Cost-effective network address translation capabilities. The CellPipe allows end users to utilize unregistered network IP addresses to access the Internet. This eliminates the cost and complexity involved with obtaining and owning dedicated IP addresses exclusively.

* Concurrent routing and bridging. Concurrent routing and bridging eliminates the need for two separate devices by providing one configurable solution for accessing any LAN and the Internet.

* Multiprotocol support. Support for point-to-point (PPP) and ATM protocols in the CellPipe ensures greater flexibility and investment protection for service providers and subscribers.

* Interoperability. The Ascend CellPipe utilizes Alcatel's MTK-20131 DynaMITE Rate Adaptive ADSL-DMT chipset.

"The CellPipe creates greater opportunity for the SOHO and telecommuting market to take advantage of our ADSL solution," said Ashok Dhawan, general manager High Speed Access for Ascend. "The CellPipe offers all the advantages of our award-winning Pipeline router, including reliability and robust features with complete ATM interoperability. As the DSL market continues to grow, we are providing next-generation solutions that bridge the high-speed world of DSL with the cost-efficient world of ATM."