FORE mentioned...
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Dec. 22) BUSINESS WIRE -Dec. 22, 1997--
8-Mbps ADSL/ATM Service Delivers Videoconferencing and Turbo Internet Access Over Ordinary Phone Lines.
Ariel Corporation (NASDAQ: ADSP) and CommTel today announced the first trial of ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) service in Maine. The trial, held in Winthrop, Maine, is the first Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) based ADSL service trial to deliver simultaneous Internet access and live video to a PC over a single pair of ordinary telephone wires.
"The idea of high speed data and telecommunications over a copper wire is truly revolutionary and represents an enormous breakthrough," remarked Governor Angus S. King (Ind.-Maine). "It saves us from having to install a tremendous infrastructure over and above the one we already have."
ADSL is a high-speed data transmission technology that enables data and video to be transmitted over ordinary telephone lines at speeds of up to 8 Mbps, more than 100 times faster than the fastest dial-up analog modems. ADSL service utilizes the public ATM network for data and video transmission, which bypasses the telephone company's switched voice network. The result is a continuously available connection for data and video that enables subscribers to access remote resources such as the Internet, email and video conferencing without dialing in and without incurring the usual delays associated with Internet Service Providers.
CommTel has selected Ariel's HORIZON(tm) ADSL system for the Maine trial, which consists of three components: an ATM Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), which resides at the telco; an ADSL Modem, which is located at the customer premises; and the HORIZON Element Management System (EMS), which provides end-to-end network management for the ADSL service. The HORIZON system utilizes industry standard IP (Internet Protocol) and ATM protocols, which enable it to combine high speed data transfers with ubiquitous connectivity, secure
transport, and enhanced QoS (Quality of Service).
Mark Blake, President of CommTel said, "We are proud to be working with Ariel on the first ever service featuring simultaneous Internet browsing and live video. We selected HORIZON because of its carrier-class features, and were especially pleased with HORIZON EMS, which made the system easy to set up and has proved itself by warning us of impaired conditions on the telephone line even before end users notice it."
David Sobin, Vice President of Ariel's Communications Systems Group added, "When we started this group in 1996, we knew that ATM was the right architecture for Service Providers' needs. Now, the market has validated our approach. Although a small number of other vendors have ATM based DSLAMs, they seem to have missed the mark with respect to ATM features needed for a real service. Features we have built into HORIZON, such as multiple virtual circuits, priority queuing, and dequate buffers provide the Quality-of-Service per VC needed by the service providers and differentiates HORIZON from other products."
Ariel has teamed with FORE Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORE) and Efficient Networks, Inc. to provide CommTel a complete end-to-end ADSL service solution. The ATM network is based on FORE ATM switches. Efficient Networks manufactures the Network Interface Cards that give subscriber PCs access to the ADSL network.
James Nadeau, Vice President of Business Development for Efficient Networks said, "We are pleased to be partnering with Ariel to provide an end-to-end solution to telephone companies and service providers. Our ATM adapter's traffic shaping capability fits well with HORIZON's cell buffering functionality and our seamless interworking with their DSLAM makes for guaranteed reliability at the endstation."
HORIZON was announced and demonstrated live at SUPERCOMM '97. The demo
featured simultaneous transmission of video and data applications over separate virtual circuits, each with its own Quality of Service. HORIZON has been shipping since June 1997. In addition to the service trial in Maine, other international and U.S. service trials are expected to begin shortly. Availability and Pricing HORIZON is available immediately with a list price of $995 per central office port and $395 for each subscriber interface unit.
Ariel Corporation is a leading supplier of remote access equipment for applications such as Internet and corporate Intranet access, on-line services, transaction processing, and unified messaging. In addition to its carrier-class HORIZON ADSL system, Ariel provides the industry's highest density V.34 and 56-kbps open systems remote access solutions for PC-based servers running the Windows NT operating system.
Strategic Acquisition of Ariel's Communications Systems Group
Ariel recently announced its decision to seek a buyer for its communications Systems Group, which developed and markets the HORIZON product family . The team, located in Piscataway, New Jersey, is staffed with engineers previously employed by Bell Laboratories and other leading technology companies. Collectively, this team has a long, successful history of developing complex wide-area data communications systems for telecommunications companies with deep competencies in data transmission, carrier-class systems design, ATM, provisioning, network management, diagnostics, etc. The company is currently in discussions with potential acquirers and partners.
For more information, please contact Ariel Corporation at 225 Old New Brunswick Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854. Phone (732) 394-6000. Fax (732) 562-1134. Email: adsl@ariel.com . Web Site: www.ariel.com .
HORIZON is a trademark of Ariel Corporation.
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CONTACT: Ariel Corp.
John Fleming, 732/394-6005
Email: john.fleming@ariel.com |
