Deal Enables Pac-West to Offer Broadband Services on One Of
First OC-48 ATM Networks Ever Constructed
STOCKTON, Calif., Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Pac-West Telecomm, Inc.
(Nasdaq: PACW), a rapidly growing provider of integrated telecommunications
services to Internet service providers (ISPs) and business customers in the
western U.S., today announced that it has entered into a relationship with
Mainsail Networks, Inc., a pioneer of Integrated Services Optical Networks
(ISON(TM)), to purchase Mainsail's Integrated Multiservice Access Platform
(IMAP(TM)), a next-generation, carrier-class access product. The IMAP will
enable Pac-West to provide high-speed transport services, including Virtual
DS-1, DS-3, OC-3, OC-12, and xDSL services on one of the first OC-48 ATM
networks ever constructed.
Jason Mills, Pac-West's Vice President of Network Operations, said, "In
today's market, the mass amounts of bandwidth needed to fuel the Internet
explosion make it increasingly difficult to obtain the necessary capacity on
existing networks. To meet the tremendous demand from customers for reliable,
high-speed connectivity, carriers are looking for ways to maximize capacity
from existing facilities.
The IMAP technology provides core-ATM at an unprecedented OC-48 rate. With
this much bandwidth running packet-native, Pac-West will be able to offer its
customers "broadband-on-demand" at competitive prices."
This next-generation broadband access solution enables Pac-West to deliver
intelligent, high-performance services, while simultaneously reducing the
cost, time, and complexity of provisioning. Mainsail's IMAP combines the
functions of a switched voice/data DSLAM, TDM multiplexer, ATM switch, voice
gateway and SONET add/drop multiplexer, creating a unified communications
platform that integrates voice, video, and data applications onto a single
transport network. The IMAP provides GR-303 functionality that allows a
carrier to leverage their existing switch investment and will support SS7 in
the near future to address "switchless" topologies. This reduces the number
of network elements, which improves efficiency and reduces overhead costs.
"We are extremely pleased about our relationship with Pac-West, and the
benefits that the IMAP can deliver toward their launch into broadband," said
Bill Waters, Mainsail Networks' Senior Vice President of Sales, Support and
Business Development. "Pac-West is building a world-class ATM-based network
that will fully utilize the functionality of the IMAP product to
cost-effectively provision and deliver high-performance voice, data and
Internet services."
IMAP's non-blocking ATM switching engine provides multiple classes of
service, connection admission control, traffic policing and shaping, which
enables Pac-West to fully utilize available bandwidth while managing numerous
Quality of Service (QoS) levels.
In a related agreement announced last week, Pac-West announced that it has
signed a long-term capacity agreement with Qwest Communications (NYSE: Q), the
broadband Internet communications company. Under terms of that agreement,
Pac-West will obtain exclusive rights to an OC-48 optical transport ring which
will enable it to offer up to 2.4 gbps capacity on selected routes between
central and southern California, the densest information corridor in the
country. Mainsail's IMAP solution gives Pac-West the ability to provision
TDM, ATM, and IP data and voice services directly from an optical network.
About Pac-West Telecomm
Founded in 1980, Pac-West Telecomm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PACW) is a rapidly
growing provider of integrated telecommunications services throughout the
western U.S. Pac-West supplies Internet infrastructure and broadband services
to Internet service providers (ISPs) and integrated voice, data and Internet
services to small and medium-sized businesses. The company currently has
operations in California, Nevada, Washington and Colorado, and is rapidly
expanding its network into other western states. Pac-West is a Safeguard
Scientifics (NYSE: SFE) partner company. For more information, please visit
the company's web site at http://www.pacwest.com .
About Mainsail Networks
Founded in 1997, Mainsail Networks is a privately held company that
designs, develops, and markets integrated multiservice access solutions for
next-generation optical networks. Mainsail Networks pioneered the concept of
Integrated Services Optical Network (ISON(TM)) enabling carries to optimize
the convergence of TDM, ATM and IP services over optical networks. Mainsail
IMAP(TM), the company's integrated multiservice access platform, incorporates
the functions of multiple networking elements into a single integrated system.
More information about the company is available at http://www.mainsailnet.com .
Terayon Communication Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: TERN) has announced a definitive
agreement to acquire Mainsail Networks.
Forward-Looking Statements
The foregoing discussion contains forward-looking statements. Pac-West's
future performance is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to deviate substantially from those discussed in these
forward-looking statements. Factors that could impact the variability of
future results include: successful execution of the company's expansion
activities into new geographic markets on a timely and cost-effective basis;
the pace at which new competitors enter the company's existing and planned
markets; competitive responses of the Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers;
execution of interconnection agreements with Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers
on terms satisfactory to the company; maintenance of the company's supply
agreements for transmission facilities; continued acceptance of the company's
services by new and existing customers; the outcome of legal and regulatory
proceedings regarding reciprocal compensation for Internet-related calls and
certain of the company's product offerings; the ability to attract and retain
talented employees; and the company's ability to successfully access markets,
install switching electronics, and obtain the use of leased fiber transport
facilities and any required governmental authorizations, franchises and
permits, all in a timely manner, at reasonable costs and on satisfactory terms
and conditions, as well as regulatory, legislative and judicial developments
that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results
indicated, expressed or implied, in such forward-looking statements. These
and other factors are discussed in the company's Prospectus dated November 3,
1999, and filed with the SEC.
SOURCE Pac-West Telecomm, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.pacwest.com
CONTACT:
Reid Cox, Director of Investor Relations at
Pac-West Telecomm, Inc., 209-926-3417, rcox@pacwest.com, or Bill
Waters, Senior Vice President Sales and Business Development at
Mainsail Networks, Inc., 510-438-0500, or Media, Dawn Swidorski,
or General, Lisa Chainey, both of Financial Relations Board,
415-986-1591
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