Austin, Texas – General Bandwidth, a leading Voice over IP equipment manufacturer enabling rapid deployment and new service revenue generation over broadband networks, today announced that Choice One Communications Inc., an integrated communications provider offering facilities-based voice and data telecommunications service to small and medium-sized businesses, has selected the G6® Access Media Gateway (MG) for a network-wide packet voice deployment across 18 markets, starting in 2005.

“Choice One is committed to rapidly serving the service growth needs of our current clients,” said Bob Bailey, senior vice president of technology for Choice One Communications.  “General Bandwidth’s G6 Universal Media Gateway Platform provides not only the scalability and capacity to best meet our service growth needs but provides a universal gateway solution that enables simultaneous support for derived Class 5 and next generation softswitch-based services, simplifying the transition of clients to the new architecture.”
 
Initially deployed in both the Pittsburgh and Milwaukee markets with plans to expand to four additional markets in early 2005, Choice One has leveraged the pre-provisioning capabilities available within the G6 platform to migrate integrated voice and data services for about 8,000 customer connections in three one-night conversions.

 “We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Choice One as they move toward accelerating their deployment of packet voice services to their commercial customers,” said Charles Vogt, president and chief executive officer of General Bandwidth. “With packet voice services representing one of the largest revenue growth opportunities for today’s leading competitive carriers, General Bandwidth continues to be the leading voice gateway for carriers seeking to generate revenue quickly.”

About Choice One Communications

Headquartered in Rochester, New York, Choice One Communications, Inc. is a leading integrated communications provider offering voice and data services including Internet solutions, to businesses in 29 metropolitan areas (markets) across 12 Northeast and Midwest states.

For further information about Choice One, visit our web site at www.choiceonecom.com or contact us at 1-888-832-5800.

About The G6 Universal Media Gateway Platform

The G6 Universal Media Gateway Platform is the architectural basis for the multiple media gateway products offered by General Bandwidth. The G6 platform is a true carrier class VoIP services platform with the capability to simultaneously support multiple service architectures including legacy Class 5 switches, SIP-based feature servers, and next generation softswitches.  The platform supports a variety of packet and PSTN interfaces, scaling from 240 to 16,128 simultaneous DS0s in a single chassis.  The company markets the following media gateway products globally:

G6 Access MG

Providing Class 5 services over VoIP and AAL1/AAL2 broadband networks using existing GR-303, TR-08, V5.2, or T1/E1 CAS interfaces; extending the life of the legacy switching network.

G6 Reverse MG

Proven interoperable with the leading wireline and cable based softswitches via MGCP or H.248, the G6 Reverse MG enables new IP based features on legacy remote terminals by enabling their call control to be softswitch-based. The product is applicable to most GR-303, TR-08, and V5.x remote terminals.

G6 Trunking MG

Proven interoperable with the leading wireline and cable-based softswitches, the G6 Trunking MG provides circuit-to-packet media conversion using MGCP, H.248, or SIP softswitch call control.  The product is one of only a few media gateways awarded PacketCable™ Media Gateway qualification for the cable network infrastructure.  The product also provides SIP to PRI interworking for hosted IP communications services.

G6 Universal MG

The industry’s first universal media gateway serving the ILEC/PTT, CLEC, and MSO networks, The G6 Universal MG provides simultaneous support for all access, reverse and trunking media gateway applications on a single G6 chassis.  The product delivers seamless, risk-free migration to next generation services to address evolving broadband and voice service needs.  The consolidation and management of voice services through a single G6 significantly reduces capital and operational expenses.

About General Bandwidth

General Bandwidth is a leading provider of Voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure solutions spanning more than 40 service providers worldwide. General Bandwidth delivers broadband solutions addressing a full range of applications, including residential and business access, trunking and enhanced VoIP solutions.  With eight patents issued and ten pending, General Bandwidth’s flagship G6 Universal Media Gateway and network management system are OSMINE, RUS, PacketCable™, NEBS-3 and TL 9000 certified and deployed in RBOCs, CLECs, RLECs and Cable service provider networks worldwide. General Bandwidth was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.   Additional information on General Bandwidth is available at www.genband.com.

Contacts:
Noah Sessions
GENBAND Inc.
+1.972.265.3664 (office)
noah.sessions@genband.com

Trademark notes:  G6 and General Bandwidth are registered trademarks of General Bandwidth Inc.