Tellium Inc. and U.S. Government Agencies
Successfully Demonstrate First Operating Fiber
Optic Network for Advanced Voice, Video and Data
Transmission
Technology Uses Commercially Available Products and Public Networks
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 1999-- Tellium, Inc. announced today that it has successfully
delivered, installed and participated in a senior-level U.S. Government demonstration of the world's first high-performance
fully reconfigurable optical ring network, commissioned by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Tellium has delivered the latest multiwavelength optical network switching technology available to construct an optical ring
network serving three sites in the Washington, D.C. area including the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), the
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as well as DARPA.
Tellium won the $2.5 million award, in competition with major suppliers, under the program called Multiwavelength Optical
Networking Technology (MONET). MONET was established to define and demonstrate how best to achieve
multiwavelength optical networking on a national scale that serves both commercial and government applications.
The demonstration of the high-performance technology took place at the Sheraton National Hotel from April 26 through
April 29 and focused on the West Ring, Tellium's portion of the project. Demonstrations of data and full motion video
including secure High Definition Television (HDTV) were transmitted at high speeds of 2.5 GB/s.
For MONET, Tellium provided three Aurora-32 optical cross connects, six dense wave division multiplexers (DWDM)
and four line wavelength amplifiers.
Tellium's Aurora-32 Intelligent Operating System delivers protection at the optical layer for complete network survivability.
The company's Optical-Unidirectional Path Switched Ring (O-UPSR) protocol delivers protection switching at speeds
faster than 50 milliseconds. Telcordia provided the network management and system integration.
''We are honored to be participants in an effort that we believe will substantially change the way people communicate,''
said Mike Hodges, president and CEO of Tellium.
''What we have seen here is the launch of a new era in high-speed, high-performance communications that securely
supports not only our national defense system, but has far-reaching commercial applications for the transmission of voice,
data and video.''
The MONET demonstration was part of an annual premier showcase event where new technologies and
government-funded technology programs are showcased for review by the DoD and all government services. The partners
in the MONET consortium include AT&T, Bell Atlantic, Telcordia Technologies, BellSouth, Lucent Technologies and
SBC/TRI.
Tellium is headquartered in Oceanport, N.J. In 1997, it became the commercial spin-off from Telcordia (formerly
Bellcore), the one-time research arm of the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs). Corporate investors include
Telcordia Technologies, SAIC, Cisco, and Ortel Corporation.
Financial investors include Oak Investment Partners, Accel Partners, Worldview Technology Partners and Blue Rock
Capital Investors.
Tellium's optical cross connect product, Aurora-32, was the first-to-market in the telecommunications industry and is the
cornerstone network element of survivable mesh and ring optical networks. Tellium's robust portfolio of intellectual
property is providing the seeds for new products and services. More information about Tellium can be found on the
Internet at www.tellium.com.
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