Austin, TX -- General Bandwidth, a telecommunications equipment provider enabling the new voice infrastructure, announced today the execution of an OEM agreement with Alcatel for carrier class solutions for Voice over ATM in fiber to the user (FTTU) networks.

Alcatel will integrate, resell, and support General Bandwidth's carrier-class multi-application solution, the G6 ® Packet Telephony Migration Platform, to selected customers and engage in joint marketing activities as appropriate. The G6 platform is custom built on a highly scalable 60 Gbps backplane, supports IP, ATM and TDM in the same platform, and offers an advanced element management system that is Telcordia OSMINE certified.

The OEM agreement will allow selected customers to obtain an integrated Voice over ATM solution from Alcatel that merges the G6 platform, a carrier class voice infrastructure migration solution, with Alcatel's FTTU solution, as well as comprehensive integration and customer support services.

The combined solution will allow service providers to reliably deploy voice over ATM services across an FTTU network, offering service providers new revenue opportunities and allowing them to lower costs and increase network efficiencies.

"General Bandwidth's dedication to meeting their customers' stringent requirements and the technology of the G6 platform makes our relationship with General Bandwidth a very good one," said Mike Dobbs, senior vice president of Alcatel's fixed networking activities in North America. “We are pleased to be able to offer our FTTU customers a proven voice over ATM solution that meets their business and technical needs.”

“Alcatel is a leading equipment provider among our core accounts, making this relationship a logical step for General Bandwidth,” said Brendon Mills, president and CEO of General Bandwidth. “We are pleased to be working with a world class company to provide service providers with a solution that enables them to lower costs and create new revenue streams.”

About Alcatel

Alcatel provides end-to-end communications solutions, enabling carriers, service providers and enterprises to deliver contents to any type of user, anywhere in the world. Leveraging its long-term leadership in telecommunications networks equipment as well as its expertise in applications and network services, Alcatel enables its customers to focus on optimizing their service offerings and revenue streams. With sales of EURO 16.5 billion in 2002, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. 

About General Bandwidth

General Bandwidth Inc. is a TL 9000 certified, leading developer of telecommunications equipment that is central to the build-out of the new voice infrastructure. General Bandwidth is focused exclusively on developing solutions that meet or exceed the stringent requirements of large and small carriers. General Bandwidth's flagship G6 ® Packet Telephony Migration Platform enables service providers to deploy voice over broadband technology to cost effectively deliver voice services over their existing broadband infrastructure, to better utilize their existing resources by efficiently aggregating access network traffic, and to provide a migration path to end-to-end packet networks.

Founded in 1999, General Bandwidth is located at 12303 Technology Blvd., Austin, Texas 78727; phone: 512/681-5400; fax: 512/681-5401; toll free: 877/818-2160; www.genband.com.

CONTACT:
General Bandwidth
Tabitha Bailey
+1.805.241.2532
Tabitha.Bailey@genband.com

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