GERMANTOWN, MD. -- June 24, 2002 -- Acterna (Nasdaq: ACTR) today announced that it is supporting the development and roll out of new high-speed optical networks and services with the addition of 40Gbit/s capability to its portable Advanced Network Tester (ANT) for use in the lab or in the field. The Acterna ANT-40G is the first tester that provides complete analysis of framed signals on SONET/SDH networks operating at OC-768c/STM-256c and will allow manufacturers and service providers to verify high-speed networks and network components.
As 40Gbit/s systems and services begin to migrate from the laboratory into the optical core network "backbone," manufacturers must speed the development of new products, and service providers must work quickly to ensure proper integration of these products into existing networks.
In the manufacturing environment, Acterna's ANT-40G will allow equipment vendors to shorten product development timelines and decrease time to revenue by verifying that prototype optical network components, including boards, systems and interfaces, are properly designed and are compliant with industry standards.
"Network equipment manufacturers will use Acterna's ANT-40G in verification labs where the tester will ensure the overall performance of systems that carry concatenated or structured 40 Gbit/s streams," said Bernhard Mueller, Acterna general manager, optical transport. "As higher rates move from the laboratory environment into the network, the Acterna ANT-40G will help operators install, maintain and troubleshoot network elements running at 40Gbit/s."
The Acterna ANT-40G allows users to verify a wide range of SONET/SDH parameters, including overhead generation and analysis, pointer processing and bit error rate processing and testing. Compact and portable, the tester features a touch-screen, menu-driven GUI that allows users to fully analyze SONET/SDH bit rates easily. The ANT-40G also offers remote access via Ethernet interface 10baseT or 100baseTx connection, and can be equipped with RS.232, TCP/IP and GPIB interfaces that enable remote connectivity.
Acterna's broad portfolio of fiber optic instruments and solutions also play a significant role in addressing challenging issues, such as chromatic dispersion and polarization mode dispersion, in 40Gbit/s networks. Many of these will be exhibited at Supercomm.
About Acterna Optical Transport Solutions Acterna is the world's market leader in optical transport network testing and management equipment. The company's complete portfolio of optical testing equipment is used to help manufacture, deploy, manage and optimize high-speed fiber optic networks being built around the world to connect businesses and homes to the Internet, voice and data networks. A technology leader, Acterna was the first company in the industry to introduce a 10-gigabit field-service instrument.
About Acterna
Acterna is the world's largest provider of test and management solutions for optical transport, access and cable networks, and the second largest communications test company overall. Focused entirely on providing equipment, software, systems and services, Acterna helps customers develop, install, manufacture and maintain their optical transport, access, cable, data/IP and wireless networks. The company serves customers in more than 80 countries. Acterna is a subsidiary of Acterna Corporation (NASDAQ: ACTR). Information about Acterna can be found on the Web at www.acterna.com.
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