( BW)(ASCEND-2)(ASND) Ascend's Multiservice Switches Maintain Market
Leadership in Frame Relay and Advance ATM Position in 1997
Business Editors and Computer Writers
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 28, 1998--
Dataquest Figures Show Ascend on Top in Frame Relay Market Two Years Running; Gains Ground in
Burgeoning ATM Market
Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND), a leader in wide area networking (WAN) solutions
for providers and users of the New Public Network, today announced 1997 WAN research findings from
Dataquest that show Ascend as the revenue leader in Frame Relay sales, and advancing in the ATM
market. Ascend continued to lead the competition, with 38.3 percent revenue market share in Frame Relay
in North America, and has increased their revenue in ATM by 247 percent.
According to Dataquest market share figures, Ascend sold nearly two times more Frame Relay
equipment than the nearest competitor in North America. According to the report, "the Ascend
STDX/B-STDX is the most widely deployed frame relay switch." The report also noted a move to
multiservice platforms: "service providers are beginning to evolve from standalone frame relay switches
to ATM-based multiservice platforms that can handle large-scale frame relay (and other services) in
addition to ATM. Dataquest expects widespread use of multiservice platforms by the end of the decade."
Ascend is the only vendor that provides a true Multiservice switch today. Dataquest forecasts that the
backbone Frame Relay equipment market will continue its growth from $846 million in 1997 to $1.1
billion in 2002.
Dataquest figures also show that Ascend had the highest year-over-year growth than any other vendor
with 247 percent increase in ATM sales. The research firm projects growth in the ATM market from $855
million in 1997 to 2.6 billion in 2002.
Ascend recently announced four new modules for its market leading B-STDX(tm) Frame Relay WAN
switches that continue to build on the company's reputation for delivering world-class, multiservice core
networking solutions. The new 12-port T1/E1 module delivers cost effective ATM for multimedia
support, providing concentration of voice, video, and data over an ATM connection. The 2-port Ethernet
module supports IP connectivity requirements, enabling service providers to easily offer both Internet
hosting services and value-added IP routing services that are inherent in Ascend's IP Navigator. Ascend
provides Frame Relay Switched Virtual Circuit (SVC) services, allowing its carrier and enterprise
customers to offer new, on-demand Frame Relay services that support multimedia applications including
voice and video. Ascend also introduced today MultiLink Frame Relay, which allows service providers
to cost effectively scale their backbone capacity.
"Ascend's market leadership validates a commitment to both our customers networking and business
needs," said Bob Sullebarger, director, Product Marketing, Core Systems Division at Ascend. "Our
high-speed, carrier-class Frame Relay and WAN switches, with support for ATM and IP as well as
end-to-end QoS, provide value added, cost efficient solutions that enable our service provider and
enterprise customers to advance their business goals and increase revenue."
About Ascend Communications
Ascend Communications, Inc. develops, manufactures, sells and services wide area networking
solutions for telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and corporate customers worldwide.
Press and industry analysts, please contact: Stephanie Prentice, Alexander Communications,
404-897-2300 ext. 326, sprentice@alexandercom.com. Investors and financial analysts, please contact:
Kristina Graziano, 510-747-2345, kristina.graziano@ascend.com; or all other inquiries please call
toll-free: 800/ASCEND4.
For more information about Ascend and its products, please visit the Ascend web site at
www.ascend.com, or send e-mail to info@ascend.com. Ascend is headquartered at One Ascend Plaza,
1701 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, Calif. 94502; phone is 800/ASCEND4 and fax is 510-814-2300.
The foregoing statements may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations
and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from these expectations as a
result of factors including, but not limited to, the Company's success in developing, introducing or shipping
new products, competition, the mix of distribution channels employed, the Company's dependence on
single or limited source suppliers for certain components used in its products, risks inherent in
international sales, seasonality and general economic conditions. These and other factors are discussed in
Ascend's 10-K, 10-Q and other filings made periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
--30--jar/sf*
CONTACT: Alexander Communications
Stephanie Prentice, 404/897-2300
sprentice@alexandercom.com
or
Ascend Communications
Mike Robinson, 978/952-1576
michael.robinson@ascend.com
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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