NEW FSP 2000 CWDM FEATURE FROM ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING DRIVES DOWN COSTS

Martinsried/Munich, Germany; Mahwah/New Jersey, USA. March 18, 2003. ADVA Optical Networking (FSE: ADV), a leading global provider of optical networking solutions, today announced an important new feature for its Fiber Service Platform (FSP) 2000 product platform. Aimed at significantly lowering capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating expenditure (OPEX) costs for enterprise and carrier customers, ADVA is introducing a new Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) module set which reduces first installed cost and enables migration to a hybrid CWDM and Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) system.

The new CWDM design can be configured with 2 or 4 channels in a network, and later upgraded to either a full 8-channel CWDM system or 20-channel CWDM and DWDM hybrid system. This enables carriers and enterprises to implement a more cost-effective Wavelength Division Multiplexing solution today, analyze their bandwidth demand and future requirements, and then commit to additional CWDM or DWDM capabilities at a later point in time. The design provides a clear migration strategy with significant flexibility at 40% to 50% lower initial installation costs than a traditional DWDM system and significant ongoing OPEX savings by eliminating the need for training and additional spares for a separate system. The new CWDM module set was developed particularly in response to small storage projects currently being implemented by small- and medium-sized enterprises, who may only require two to three wavelengths initially but need to add more channels in the future as storage area network and local area network applications grow.

"This new FSP 2000 CWDM feature addresses carriers' and enterprises' network requirements in the context of today's difficult spending environment - both driving down their costs and providing them with the flexibility and scalability in their networks to meet growing bandwidth demand," stated Brian P. McCann, Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer at ADVA Optical Networking. "By spending a significant amount of time with our large customer base to better understand their network requirements, we continue to lead the market with innovative features that create real value for new metro services."

ADVA's FSP 2000 was launched in May 2001 as the successor product to the company's best-selling FSP-II product. Now in its sixth major new feature release, the FSP 2000 provides a seamless upgrade path from the FSP-II, also sold by Cisco Systems as the Metro 1500. Targeted toward enterprises and carriers, parallel use of Coarse/Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (C/DWDM) and TDM technology enable up to 512 applications to be transported over one single fiber pair up to 200 kilometers. Its robust character and ability to transport all protocols between 8Mbit/s and 10Gbit/s make the FSP 2000 an ideal solution particularly for large-scale, high-bandwidth storage networks.

The FSP 2000 CWDM feature is fully compliant with the new ITU-T G.694.2 CWDM specifications and will be released for general availability in volume shipment in April 2003.

ABOUT ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING
ADVA Optical Networking is a leading global provider of optical networking solutions for rapid and cost-effective provisioning of high-speed data, storage, voice, and video services in the metropolitan area. ADVA's carrier-class portfolio is comprised of the Fiber Service Platform family of products - explicitly designed to ensure the lowest total cost of ownership. ADVA's solutions have been deployed at over 70 carriers and service providers (including PTTs, RBOCs, LECs, and IXCs) and more than 500 enterprises worldwide. ADVA's products are sold through an international network of blue-chip distribution partners in addition to its own direct sales force. Further information about ADVA Optical Networking: www.advaoptical.com.