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| Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises Purchases SuperLine Access System For Bundled Voice and Data Services Trial |
PHOENIX, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- AG Communication Systems, a subsidiary of Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU), announced today that Pennsylvania-based Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. (CTE) (Nasdaq: CTCO, CTCOB), has purchased the SuperLine(TM) Access System for a market trial of bundled voice and data services for its residential and small-office/home-office (SOHO) customers. With SuperLine, CTE can offer its customers up to three telephone lines and Ethernet data over a single existing copper phone line. CTE's SuperLine market trial is scheduled to begin the first week in June. "SuperLine solves a pressing need for us as our customers are increasingly demanding multiple phone lines at a time when we've nearly exhausted our copper line capacity," said David Gustafson, vice president of operations and engineering at CTE. "SuperLine will allow us to serve our customers right now without the costly expense of new outside plant construction. We believe SuperLine is the perfect answer." "SuperLine gives service providers like CTE great economic value," said Mark Emery, vice president and general manager of AG Communication Systems' New Ventures Group. "SuperLine allows CTE to decrease its need for new copper, eliminate truck rolls and decrease congestion on its network while increasing revenues by expanding its second- and third-line penetration rates." The SuperLine solution consists of two major elements: the SuperLine Access Shelf manufactured by AG Communication Systems and the SuperLine Integrated Access Device (IAD) made by Paradyne Corporation. The SuperLine Access Shelf resides in a service provider's central office or beside a remote digital loop carrier (DLC). The SuperLine IAD -- a piece of equipment similar in size to a modem -- is located in a customer's home or office. SuperLine both merges and enhances features available from DLC and digitally added main line (DAML) products with competitive pricing, performance and function. SuperLine utilizes digital links to deliver the additional phone lines from a central office switch via standards-based digital switch interfaces. SuperLine can be fully populated in standard binder groups because it uses Tripleplay(TM) technology from Paradyne. It is compatible with existing network services, including POTS, ISDN, ADSL, T1 and legacy data circuits. SuperLine can reduce service providers' annual construction costs by more than 20 percent. Unlike existing solutions for digitally adding lines to an existing copper wire, service providers do not need to send technicians to each home or office to install the SuperLine IAD, significantly reducing costs and allowing them to quickly get the new phone lines into service for customers. At the home or small office, the consumer simply plugs the SuperLine IAD into a conventional power outlet and any existing phone jack. The additional phone lines are accessed through standard modular jacks on the SuperLine IAD and support enhanced voice services such as call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting and distinctive ringing. SuperLine supports the maximum-allowable speeds on V.90 56 Kbps analog modems with AG Communication Systems' SuperSpeed(TM) technology. A higher-speed Ethernet data option allows service providers to stimulate even higher revenues by offering data rates of up to half a megabit on normal loops. About CTE Headquartered in Dallas, PA, Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc., is a diversified telecommunications company providing advanced solutions to deliver communications, information and entertainment services to business and residential users. CTE's primary operating segments include: CTSI, Inc., a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) focused on tier-two markets that formally commenced operations in 1997; Commonwealth Telephone Company, the nation's 10th largest independent incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC), which has been operating in various rural Pennsylvania markets since 1897; and epix(TM) Internet Services (http://www.epix.net), one of the northeast's largest rural ISPs with more than 40,000 dial-up Internet access customers. Additionally, CTE operates two support businesses that provide expertise to its CLEC and ILEC operations. These businesses are Commonwealth Communications, a telecommunications engineering and consulting business and CLD, a facilities-based long-distance reseller. Additional information is available on the company's web site at http://www.ct-enterprises.com. About AG Communication Systems AG Communication Systems, a subsidiary of Lucent Technologies, is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced communication products and services, including switching, access, video, wireless and intelligent network products. AG Communication Systems' GTD-5(R) digital switching systems serve more than 17 million business, government and residential subscribers. Annual revenues for the fiscal year ended September 1998 were approximately $450 million. Additional information is available on the company's web site at http://www.agcs.com or by calling 1-888-888-AGCS. All products and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. SuperLine and SuperSpeed are trademarks of AG Communication Systems. Tripleplay is a trademark of Paradyne Corporation. Epix is a trademark of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises. GTD-5 is a registered trademark used under license from GTE Corporation.SOURCE AG Communication Systems
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CONTACT:
Michael Mitchell of AG Communication Systems,
623-581-4198, mitchelm@agcs.com; or Mike Burnside of Commonwealth
Telephone Enterprises, Inc., 570-674-2806, burnside@epix.net
