Fire Networks announces exciting new broadbandSOHO/Home Access solutions for voice, data and...

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 1997--SuperComm, Fire Networks Inc., an internal startup within a $2 billion holding company, announced today a new family of loop transmission products called FireWorx(TM).

FireWorx provides broadband customer access to high speed bi-directional

Elegant solutions have been provided by Fire Networks' innovative design. The dual access issues of copper plant exhaustion and high speed data access are now resolved. FireWorx is an extensible technology family. Network terminated interfaces and customer premise solutions can be implemented by carriers off the same service platform.

Fire utilizes a unique application of HDSL transport technology for its current set of products. In future releases, the open architecture of FireWorx will allow the addition of Fire Networks DSL Engines(TM) to add new xDSL solutions. The new products will plug-n-play with currently offered solutions.

To achieve this delivery, the product offering will have various components available for deployment in the Customer Premise, NID, remote hut and CO. The customer access is provided via a Broadband Terminal Unit (BTU). Two types of BTUs are available. The CampFire(TM) 4000 span powered BTU mounts on the outside of a home or business, and provides four 64kbp/s VF channels. In addition to the four 64kbp/s VF lines, BonFire provides a 1.168 mbp/s 10BaseT Ethernet connection to a PC. The BonFire(TM) is located in the business or home and is locally powered. A FireMux(TM) FM1200 Multiplexer is located in the central office or remote cabinet. The FM1200 houses the FPH4 FirePlugs(TM) which terminate the BTU HDSL lines. VF lines are dropped to the voice switch or Digital Loop Carrier. PC data traffic is aggregated to the FL10 FireLan(TM) switching bridge which is also located in the FM1200. The FL10 provides a 10BaseT output to the internet access network.

"The Fire Brigade has built a product line which will enable telecom service providers to meet competition and deregulation head-on, winning the Battle for The Local Loop," said Steve Grady, general manager for Fire Networks. "With our combined internal experience in loop transmission, advanced data services, network management and regulatory knowledge, Fire Networks will become a key technology provider to network service providers."

The Fire Networks network management suite includes the FireStation(TM) -- a scaleable TMN compliant UNIX application for element management, FireCracker(TM) -- a JAVA craft interface running on a WIN 95 laptop and FireMarshal(TM) -- an embedded application in the FL10 accessible through an RS-232 connection locally to manage the data functionality. Full network management functionality will be provided for the voice and data segments, with a network management fabric that will integrate with legacy OSS functionality.

According to Kim Lewis, Director-NMF, "the suite of network management solutions offered by Fire Networks is a comprehensive set of standards-based software and firmware available for the DSL access arena. Fire Networks has positioned their product line to be very administrator friendly for all the OAM&P functions."

As part of Fire Networks' commitment to the service provider, a "Rapid Response(SM) Customer Care Support System" has been implemented. "Based on our knowledge of service providers' needs, we have put in place 24x7 mission-critical support," stated Kenneth Neighbors, Vice President of Marketing and Sales. "This will ensure to our customers that Fire Networks will meet and exceed all of their service-related expectations."

The Fire Networks solution will be on display at the E/O SuperComm booth 3278, and at the Fire Networks presentation and Gala Celebration at the Hotel Royal Sonesta in New Orleans, Tuesday June 3rd at 7:30 p.m.

Fire Networks Inc. develops, manufactures and distributes broadband access network elements for the customer premise, CEV, and CO that enhance the copper infrastructure. Fire's unique application of xDSL transport technology provides the only end-to-end, fully digital network managed broadband delivery system that allows simultaneous voice, video and data service delivery. Fire Networks is an internal startup of a $2 billion holding company. Offices are located at 2655 Villa Creek Drive, Suite 290, Dallas, Texas, 75234, telephone 972/501-7400, fax 972/501-7401, Web site: www.firenetworks.com .

CONTACT: Fire Networks Inc.

Ken Neighbors, 216/498-8718

216/498-8728 fax