Plano, TX, May 19, 2009 - GENBAND Inc., a market-leading developer of next-generation IP infrastructure solutions, today announced several significant enhancements to the GENBAND G2 Compact Gateway™ that include interfaces and trunking for E1 circuits used in most countries outside of the U.S., Canada and Japan. GENBAND has also incorporated Emergency Standalone (ESA) features into the G2 that provide emergency announcements and the ability to handle variable international emergency dial plans.

GENBAND’s G2 Compact Gateway is a carrier-class, fully redundant, multipurpose gateway in an environmentally hardened, small form factor chassis that enables operators to buy capacity incrementally, without buying more than needed and without consuming excess amounts of energy. Supporting up to 24 E1s, PRIs, or T1s, the G2 combines an array of important features and functions in an economically and environmentally friendly solution.

“We are pleased to extend the capabilities of our G2 Compact Gateway to meet the E1 requirements of international markets while simultaneously addressing worldwide ESA requirements in a single box,” said Mehmet Balos, Chief Marketing Officer at GENBAND. “Perhaps more than ever before, network operators across the globe are seeking innovative solutions that meet their network evolution needs while maintaining the lowest possible CapEx and OpEx levels. The G2 allows operators to perform several different functions with a small, single box ideally suited for distributed architectures.”

Earlier this year, NetEvents, one of the key communication channels between press, analysts and vendors in the IT networking and communications marketplace, recognized the G2 Compact Gateway as the Telecoms Infrastructure Product of the Year for the concrete advantages it provides operators in today’s challenging economy.  In presenting the award, Steve Broadhead, founder and director of Broadband Testing Labs, commented “it was good to see a company with a working technology that’s deliverable right now and that’s truly cost-effective.”

The G2 is built to serve ILEC, RLEC, PTT, CLEC, and cable networks with the ability to simultaneously support multiple service architectures including Access Gateway (Voice over Broadband), Packet Line Gateway and Trunk Gateway.  The G2 is a cost effective platform that supports legacy networks, IMS, SIP application servers, and softswitch-based networks.

As a Packet Line Gateway, the G2 product allows SIP application servers, softswitches and IMS core products to provide call control and features to customer lines on legacy access platforms like digital loop carriers and certain Class 5 line frames including DCO and EWSD line frames. As a trunking gateway, the G2 platform enables circuit-to-packet media conversion, CALEA, E911, security and other services using H.248, MGCP, or SIP-based call control. The G2 supports all Packet Line Gateway and Trunk Gateway functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple elements for these functions.

Network Migration
Approximately 1.3 Billion voice lines are still served today by legacy TDM equipment. By allowing softswitches or IMS networks to control services over legacy TDM equipment like remotes, digital loop carriers (DLCs), and access nodes (ANs), the G2 provides a cost-effective, rational path for network migration and legacy asset re-use. In addition, the G2's small size and hardened chassis allow it to operate in outdoor access plant cabinets under high heat conditions. The G2 platform’s ESA feature ensures that legacy and next generation access networks maintain intra-system and emergency calling if softswitch communications to endpoints are disrupted.

Advanced FTTx Capabilities
As an access gateway, the G2 interworks TDM and VoIP protocols to allow Local Exchange/Class 5 control over GPON, IP DSLAM and MSAN networks. By allowing legacy switches to control voice lines on FTTx, the G2 provides a valuable, cost-effective bridge until the operator deploys voice services using softswitches or IMS. The G2's new, small form factor is particularly suited for FTTx networks, since deployments can ramp slowly and therefore must be affordable from day one.  

Small Footprint / Low Power
The G2 is arguably the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly universal gateway in its class.  Its stackable, 2U chassis and "gateway-on-a-blade" architecture allows operators to grow their networks economically, scaling both port capacity and power in smaller increments. 
The low-power G2 uses the latest generation of advanced, all-in-one DSPs and platform architecture for high quality VoIP and fax/modem handling. The G2 is compatible with IMS, TISPAN NGN, MSF, and PacketCable networks, and interoperable with the world's leading softswitches, circuit switches, SIP application servers, GENBAND border gateways, IP and TDM access equipment, and CPE.

About GENBAND
GENBAND is a global leader and innovator of next generation IP media, session border and fixed mobile convergence security solutions deployed in over half of the world’s 100 largest service providers. These high-performance gateway solutions are at the core of fixed and mobile networks around the world - evolving, securing and enhancing communications networks. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, GENBAND has Centers of Excellence in Brazil, China, Maryland, Massachusetts and Texas, and serves customers and partners in more than 80 countries. Additional information is available at www.genband.com.

Contacts:
Kim Lee           
GENBAND Inc.       
+1.972.265.3766      
kim.lee@genband.com   

Frank Puglia
GENBAND Inc.
+1.972.265.3612
frank.puglia@genband.com