Rural Telephone Deploys Avails Frontera Platform - Ethernet and Inverse Multiplexing Features Key to Cost-Effective Traffic Backhaul

Avail Networks, manufacturer of intelligent multiservice network access solutions, announces a recent customer win with Rural Telephone, a US-based independent local exchange carrier.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, November 1, 2002 – Avail Networks today announced that Rural Telephone, an incumbent telephone cooperative based in Kansas, has begun installing Avails Frontera(R) multiservice platforms for efficient backhaul of remote site IP/Ethernet traffic to their core network.    

Avails Frontera products are ideal for sites that need Ethernet and other connectivity options over multiple aggregated T1/E1 circuits. In Rural Telephones case, the Avail solution eliminated the need to move to higher speed circuits such as T-3 or OC-3 by utilizing existing T1 facilities between sites, avoiding wasted bandwidth and higher equipment costs in the process.

Avails Frontera solution offers a way for us to backhaul Ethernet and IP traffic from remote sites at a cost point that results in a strong business case for us," said Dennis Johnson, Central Office Manager of Rural Telephone. Avails inverse multiplexing over ATM (IMA) features provide a fault-resilient approach to packetizing traffic over our existing inter-POP T1 trunk lines without sacrificing performance or quality of service."

Rural Telephone is a good example of an independent incumbent telco that has remained healthy in part because they continue to make wise capital investment decisions that improve their infrastructure," noted David L. Hartmann, President and CEO of Avail Networks. We are very pleased that they are successfully deploying our Frontera platforms in key segments of their network."

About Avail Networks
Avail Networks designs, develops, and markets broadband network access solutions that enable communications providers worldwide to save costs while delivering high-value services to small, medium, and large enterprises across metro fiber, traditional wireline, and wireless access networks. Avails flagship Frontera products deliver multiple services to end-user sites in a variety of subscriber locations and configurations, maximizing service profitability, reach, and agility. Avail is privately held, financed by U.S. and international venture and strategic investors including Blueprint Ventures, EDF Ventures, Blue Chip Venture Company, NTT Leasing Capital, Enterasys Networks, and Accton Technology Corporation. For more information, visit http://www.availnetworks.com.

About Rural Telephone
Rural Telephone is a Kansas-based telecommunications provider focused on high-speed data and computer applications in addition to voice services. The company has been serving the area since 1951, when the company was brought into existence as a cooperative with an elected nine-member board. On the leading edge of communications technology, Rural Telephone offers sophisticated switched telecommunications services through a state-of-the-art 100 percent digital network. For more information, please visit http://www.ruraltelephone.com.

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PRESS CONTACT:   

David Kamm         
Avail Networks               
734-332-5585               
dkamm@availnetworks.com         

Avail Networks and Frontera are registered trademarks, and all other Avail product names are trademarks of Avail Networks, Inc. Any other trademarks or registered trademarks used here are the property of their respective owners.