CableLabs Summer Conference Showcases Packet Voice Solution From Intel, MetaSwitch and Spirent

Leading Vendors Join Forces to Demonstrate Live Voice Calls Over PacketCable Network

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 2002--MetaSwitch, together with Intel and Spirent, this week demonstrated a complete end-to-end solution designed for PacketCable(TM) networks.

 The demonstration at the CableLabs(R) Summer Conference 2002 in Keystone, Colorado, showed how service providers can deliver multiple toll-quality telephone lines over HFC networks.

 Show attendees made calls to the PSTN from regular telephone handsets over an Internet Protocol (IP), packet-based cable network. Highlighted in this demonstration were:


   --  the Intel(R) Media Center Reference Design Embedded Multimedia
        Terminal Adaptor (E-MTA)
   --  a DOCSIS-1.1 Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS)
   --  the MetaSwitch VP3500 Next Generation Class 5 Switch,
        integrating the Call Management Server (CMS), Media Gateway
        (MG), and Signaling Gateway (SG) functionality
   --  a Spirent Abacus Class 4 switch simulator, enabling POTS
        connectivity.



"We are particularly pleased that our collaboration with Intel and Spirent
has shown that this technology is real and deployable today," said John Lazar,
Vice President of MetaSwitch Sales and Marketing. "Cable vendors can easily
deliver reliable, high-quality packet voice services to generate additional
revenues from their previously under-utilized cable network, without having to
invest in expensive legacy Class 5 switches -- or rely on unproven softswitch
implementations."



Announced at SuperComm 2002, the MetaSwitch VP3500 is based on the company's
proven next generation switching technology. It is the industry's only Next
Generation Class 5 Switch capable of simultaneously supporting legacy telecom
access protocols, voice over ATM, and voice over IP. In a PacketCable
environment, it employs CableLabs' Network-based Call Signaling (NCS).



About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch develops and manufactures advanced voice switching solutions for
service providers - right at the heart of the converged network.


MetaSwitch's flagship product, the VP3500, is a Next Generation Class 5
Switch that integrates broadband (VoIP and VoATM) and legacy (POTS) voice
access with Class 5 softswitch function and more than fifty subscriber
services in a compact, fault-tolerant system.


MetaSwitch is a division of Data Connection (DCL), an established and
financially stable communications technology provider with a twenty-year track
record of success working with major service providers and equipment vendors.


MetaSwitch builds on the powerful foundation created by Data Connection,
pulling together its massive ongoing investment in the technology required to
build converged network solutions (ATM, SS7, MPLS, MGCP/H.248, IP Routing,
SIP...) and new revenue-generating services (unified messaging,
data/audio/video conferencing, directory services).


MetaSwitch and Data Connection have offices in Alameda (California), Dallas
(Texas), Reston (Virginia), and Enfield (North London), Chester and Edinburgh
in the UK. Visit the MetaSwitch website at:
www.\b metaswitch\b0 .com.



About Intel



Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of
computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about
Intel is available at
www.intel.com/pressroom


About Spirent Communications



Spirent Communications is a worldwide provider of integrated performance
analysis and service assurance systems for next-generation network
technologies. Spirent's solutions accelerate the profitable development and
deployment of network equipment and services by emulating real-world
conditions in the lab and assuring end-to-end performance of large-scale
networks.
www.spirentcom.com


Spirent Communications is a wholly owned subsidiary of Spirent plc, an
international network technology company. Spirent plc is listed on the London
Stock Exchange (ticker:SPT). The company is also listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (ticker: SPM; CUSIP number: 84856M209).
www.spirent.com


Data Connection and MetaSwitch are trademarks of Data Connection Limited and
Data Connection Corporation. Brands and products referenced herein are the
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.