DSL Forum Interoperability Showcase at SUPERCOMM 2000 Demonstrates Major Industry Milestone as DSL Hits One-Millionth Customer

First Public Demonstration of Any-to-any Interoperability of ADSL Products as DSL deployment numbers move beyond one (m) million lines

Atlanta, GA (June 5, 2000) -- More than 40 leading technology companies will for the first time demonstrate any-to-any asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) interoperability based on the ITU-T standards G.992.1 (G.dmt) and G.992.2 (G.lite) at the DSL Forum Interoperability Showcase (booth #227) during SUPERCOMM 2000. In order to qualify, vendors were required to successfully complete an exhaustive testing process at a staging lab held just prior to the event where all G.lite or G.dmt CPE (ATU-Rs) were proven to work with all DSLAMs (ATU-Cs) and vice-versa, a significant industry milestone. As a result, this showcase is characterized by products and services that are sweepingly compatible and ready for broad deployment to both business and consumer market segments. Manufacturers are currently shipping interoperable ADSL products that feature standards-based DSL technology.

"Around the world, DSL technology is shaping the future by opening doors for improved lifestyles. Interoperability is crucial in ensuring that consumers are able to confidently obtain DSL service without concerns over equipment compatibility," said Hans-Erhard Reiter, chairman and president of DSL Forum. "The number of DSL providers worldwide has risen dramatically to keep pace with demand and we are committed to furthering the benefits of this high-speed access technology for everyone, as we surpass the one millionth customer milestone."

The DSL showcase demonstrates how technology interoperates to significantly increase speed for email, education, telecommuting, two-way video conferencing, business-to-business e-commerce, online shopping and entertainment. An increasing number of Web sites now feature content specifically designed to take advantage of high-speed access.

www.dsllife.com

Webcast of press conference available live Tuesday, June 6, 2000 at 11:00 AM. In response to the need for a central resource for DSL information, DSL Forum has created a consumer Web site at www.dsllife.com. The site features interactive maps that direct end users to DSL service providers in their area. The DSLLife Web site also serves as an educational resource for DSL technology through streaming video, testimonials, hot links, answers to frequently asked questions and much more.

One (m) Millionth DSL Customer!!!

The DSL industry is celebrating its one (m) millionth DSL subscriber, as demand for high-speed, always-on service skyrockets. More and more people are turning to the DSLLife Web site, www.dsllife.com to understand DSL's benefits. Performing a quick search for service providers on this site enables prospective customers to find multiple vendors offering service throughout the country.

"BellSouth is excited about the strong customer demand we're experiencing for DSL technology," said Jan Hester, vice president-ADSL for BellSouth, a member of DSL Forum. "The speed and convenience of DSL products is especially attractive to consumers, whether downloading large files for personal or business reasons, participating in distance learning, or enjoying interactive entertainment. The interoperability showcase demonstrates how powerful solutions can be achieved when industry stakeholders work together."

According to TeleChoice, (http://www.xdsl.com/content/resources/deployment_info.asp), by the end of 2000, the number of DSL subscribers in the U.S. alone will be more than 2.1(m) million. As of today, an estimated 1,035,000 DSL lines have been installed in North America and the growth curve is accelerating, says the analyst firm, demonstrating that the industry is committed to deploying and expanding DSL availability around the world.

As the number of DSL subscribers surpasses one (m) million and exceeds current analysts' projections, market awareness and availability is critical. DSL Forum has launched the Mindshare Campaign to educate the consumer audience that will use DSL for personal applications. The theme "Say Hello to DSL" alerts consumers with the message that DSL is simply a new way of life, a personal tool working seamlessly over regular phone lines. DSL is giving users faster access to education, entertainment, and all the things that simplify and improve life. Plug-and-play capabilities are demystifying the technology for everyday consumers.

"Retailers like RadioShack will play a major role in increasing the adoption of DSL technology among the mass market," said Mark Stanley, senior vice president, strategic development for Tandy/RadioShack. "Stores provide an environment where consumers can actually experience the technology and products for themselves."

In addition to its obvious consumer benefits, the increasing availability of DSL is addressing demand from other market segments such as SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), telecommuters and SOHOs (small offices/home offices). DSL advancements are driving the successful implementation of a variety of applications for consumers, businesses and service providers.

DSL Forum Expands DSL Interoperability Program

DSL Forum continues its efforts in developing an open-market environment for DSL, while delivering the benefits of this technology to millions of end users around the world. DSL Forum will continue testing events so future results will include interoperability demonstrations of G.lite fast retrain, the feature that allows modems to quickly adapt to customer phone usage. In addition, DSL Forum has recently laid plans to replicate its highly successful ADSL testing strategy for SHDSL equipment to further the interoperability of that equipment. SHDSL is an industry standard symmetric DSL based on ITU Recommendation G.991.2 that provides for transmission of bit-rates of 192 kbps to 2.3 Mbps.

DSL Forum continues to move DSL Full-Speed Ahead

Enabling consumers to enjoy the opportunities and lifestyle that high-speed access provides in today's constantly changing world is a task that to which DSL Forum is committed. DSL Forum, a consortium of more than 300 leading industry PC, networking and telecommunications companies, organized this showcase to illustrate the DSL industry's cooperative efforts to enable ease-of-use and demonstrate the ways in which the technology can vastly improve customers' everyday lives. Service providers can now take advantage of the variety of service and equipment options provided by broad multi-vendor interoperability.

About DSL technology

DSL technology provides a high-speed connection to the Internet and corporate Intranets with virtually unlimited opportunities for "information on demand" while facilitating improved online shopping, video gaming, telecommuting experiences and more. Allowing data to be sent at high speeds over a standard telephone line, DSL enables telecommunications companies to meet the demand for remote access to the Internet and corporate networks. Because the service is always connected, end users do not need to dial in or wait for call set-up.

ADSL (asymmetric DSL) offers differing upload and download speeds and can, depending on the technology and DSL provider, deliver up to eight megabits of data per second (8000kbps) from the network to the customer. ADSL enables voice and high-speed data to be sent simultaneously over the existing telephone line. Building on the momentum of DSL deployments, G.lite is a specific version of ADSL developed for the consumer market segment that allows Internet access at up to 30 times the speed of today's 56kbps analog modems.

About DSL Forum Established in 1994, the Forum is dedicated to the development and mass-market deployment of broadband communications technologies based on DSL over existing copper telephone wire infrastructures. In November 1999, members voted to change the name to DSL Forum to reflect the broader scope of DSL work across the whole range of DSL technologies.

Interoperability, Internet security, VoDSL and more will be agenda points for the next working meetings of DSL Forum which will take place in Dublin, Ireland from August 30-September 1, 2000, preceded by a DSL Forum Summit Tuesday, August 29th and a DSL Tutorial workshop Monday August 28th.

Details about this and DSL are available on DSL Forum's Web sites at http://www.dslforum.org/supercomm.html - with information for users at http://www.dsllife.com

"DSL-- More than just a phone line. . . it's a lifestyle."

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SUPERCOMM Booth#227 Exhibiting DSL Forum Companies

3Com Corporation
Advanced Fibre Commun-ications, Inc.
Alcatel
Alcatel Microelectronics
Ambit Microsystems
Analog Devices
ARESCOM, INC.
BellSouth
Celsian Technologies, Inc.
Cisco Systems
Conexant Systems, Inc.
Copper Mountain Net-works, Inc.
Digicom
ECI Telecom
Efficient Networks, Inc.
Eicon Technology
E-Tech Research, Inc.
Ericsson
Fujitsu Network Commun-ications, Inc.
GlobeSpan, Inc.
Intel Corporation
Integrated Telecom Ex-press, Inc. (ITeX)
Lucent Technologies
Motorola
NEC
Netopia, Inc.
Newbridge Networks
Next Level Commun-ications
Nokia
Nortel Networks
Orckit Communications
PairGain Technologies
Paradyne
Ramp Networks
Samsung Telecommunications America
Siemens
Silicon Automation Sys-tems Ltd.
Sumitomo Electric Indust-ries, Ltd.
Texas Instruments
Virata Corporation
Westell, Inc.
Wisecom
ZyXEL Communications