Here is todays NWK PR.
Tuesday June 8, 02:44 PM Eastern time
Company Press Release
SOURCE:Network Equipment Technologies, Inc.
e.Volve/Equalnet to Build and Outsource Global ATM Subscriber Network Based on N.E.T. Promina ATM Network
FREMONT, Calif., June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- N.E.T. (NYSE: NWK) today announced that e.Volve Technology Group, Inc., an emerging global communications company and a leading ATM and Internet services innovator, signed a multiyear agreement with N.E.T. to build a worldwide multiservice ATM network and to outsource the operations of the network to the N.E.T.(TM) SourcePoint(TM) Professional Services organization. An initial order, valued at more than 3 million, was placed for N.E.T. Promina(R) 4000 ATM switches, Promina 800 Series Multiservice Access Platforms and SourcePoint Professional Services. e.Volve recently announced a definitive agreement to merge with Equalnet Communications Corp. (Nasdaq: ENETC).
This contract represents a significant network for N.E.T. since it combines the power of the Promina 4000 ATM switches with the ATM access capabilities of the Promina 800 Series Multiservice Access Platforms. Dataquest, a leading market information company, recently named N.E.T. number two in the ATM access device market. ATM offers Quality of Service parameters that take into account the different traffic characteristics of voice, data and video, thereby giving ATM an edge in multiservice networking.
e.Volve is building the international network to expand its business model selling wholesale voice, data and Internet resources to other carriers and organizations. N.E.T. is establishing a Network Operations Center (NOC) to manage operations of the e.Volve network. As part of the agreement, N.E.T. and e.Volve plan to jointly market network design and management capabilities to current N.E.T. clients who might benefit from the global voice and IP managed network services offered by e.Volve.
Phase one of the e.Volve network features an ATM backbone based on five N.E.T. Promina 4000 ATM switches connected to Promina 800 multiservice access platforms. Voice and IP traffic will be collected and adapted to ATM format at Points of Presence equipped with N.E.T. Promina 800 Series Multiservice Access Platforms. Initial U.S. coverage in major metropolitan areas includes Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City. International ATM links to Mexico are in place.
"As an emerging global communications company launching new network services, e.Volve researched available technologies. We measured against a number of standards including proven reliability, standards-based hardware and software, and a thorough understanding of our needs as a client," said Trevor L. Huffard, chief financial officer, e.Volve. "The combination of N.E.T. Promina products exceeded the field with value-added capabilities including transport of compressed voice via ATM, a service capability with global reach, and a comprehensive network management system. We expect to expand coverage in the Asia, Europe and South America in the coming years."
"This major expansion of e.Volve's successful Promina 800 network is particularly significant since we can offer the newly available Promina 4000 ATM switch for the first time," said Bob Warstler, senior vice president, Global Sales, N.E.T. "In addition, e.Volve's decision to outsource the network to N.E.T. SourcePoint Professional Services gives us an opportunity to showcase all of the capabilities we have developed to manage a worldwide subscriber network. We are pleased to work with e.Volve and we look forward to a lasting relationship that makes sense for e.Volve's customers."
The Promina 800 Series systems are equipped with internal PrimeVoice(TM) voice compression modules that can support an 8:1 increase in voice calling capacity per 64 kbit/s circuit. The Promina 800 Series systems are also equipped with internal CellXpress(TM) ATM access modules that adapt traffic for transport via ATM broadband services provided by the Promina 4000 ATM switches. Voice, IP and video traffic can be managed throughout the network by N.E.T.'s PanaVue(TM) network management system. This combination of products provides end-to-end wide area network efficiencies for reliable service that includes Class of Service differentiation for IP and voice traffic.
e.Volve is an emerging facilities-based communications company expanding an international IP and ATM network capable of transmitting compressed voice, video and data. e.Volve's technology focuses on Internet telephony and the convergence of the transmission of voice, video and data over the public Internet and private Intranets. On May 26, 1999, the board of directors of e.Volve approved a definitive stock for stock merger agreement with Equalnet Communications Corp., a facilities-based reseller of long distance services based in Houston, TX. Under the terms of the proposed merger, e.Volve will receive approximately 55 percent of the consolidated common stock, on a fully diluted basis, of the combined company. Equalnet currently owns nine multi-functional tandem switches in major metropolitan areas throughout the U.S.
Network Equipment Technologies, Inc. (N.E.T.), headquartered in Fremont, Calif., is a leading worldwide supplier of multiservice wide area networks used by carriers, government organizations and enterprises in more than 75 countries. N.E.T. multiservice WANs and ATM products integrate voice, data, and video traffic with ATM, frame relay, IP and ISDN capabilities. The company is certified to the worldwide ISO 9001 standard for design, manufacturing and service. Join us at the first address in networking: net.com for further information.
NOTE: N.E.T., PrimeVoice, CellXpress, PanaVue and SourcePoint are trademarks, and Promina and the N.E.T. logo are registered trademarks of Network Equipment Technologies, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Brenda Ropoulos of Network Equipment Technologies, Inc.,
510-574-2508
|
