Cox Communications Deploys Atrica's Optical Ethernet Systems from the

    Business Editors/Technology Editors

    RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2005--

    140 New Orleans School sites Now Receive High-Speed, Differentiated Services over a Converged Voice, Video and Data Network

    Fujitsu Network Communications Inc., a leading supplier of IT and networking solutions, and Atrica(R), the Carrier Ethernet pioneer, today announced that Cox Communications (NYSE:COX) has adopted the Fujitsu Flexible Architecture for Subscriber Service Termination (FASST(TM)) strategy. Cox Communications has completed deployment of Atrica's carrier-class Optical Ethernet products, a key component of the FASST portfolio, for a converged voice, video, and data services network that serves the New Orleans Public Schools (NOPS).
    This advanced network supports the district's stringent business and technical requirements and links nearly 140 schools and administrative sites. Each site now receives high-speed, guaranteed services including Internet access, Voice over IP, IP/H.323 videoconferencing, and distance learning, which is enabling an improved educational experience for students and increasing efficiency for communications amongst its locations.
    "According to our ENS Research Program analysis, Healthcare, Education and State/Local Government are the top three vertical industry segments for U.S. retail Ethernet services," said Rosemary Cochran, principal at Vertical Systems Group. "Combined, these segments account for more than three-quarters of the total base of customer ports installed in 2004."
    Cox Communications selected Atrica's powerful suite of Carrier Ethernet solutions after a successful trial within the St. Bernard School District in New Orleans. For the NOPS network, Cox Communications has deployed Atrica's A-8100 Optical Ethernet core switches at hub locations, A-4100 Optical Ethernet aggregation switches at select aggregation sites, and A-2100 Optical Ethernet edge switches to deliver services at each school or administration site. Cox Communications is also utilizing the Atrica Service Platform for Ethernet Networks (ASPEN(R)), an integrated service provisioning and management system, to manage the entire network.
    In addition to the world-class service and support that Fujitsu offered and provided for the project, Cox Communications selected the FASST strategy due to the ability of Atrica's Optical Ethernet Systems to provide a large scale, managed Service Level Agreement (SLA)-based Gigabit Ethernet network with integrated TDM services at an economical price point. Atrica's Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF)-compliant Committed Information Rate (CIR) capabilities allow Cox Communications to accurately control bandwidth and ensure each site has an equal share of bandwidth and services.
    The carrier-class attributes Atrica delivers, including guaranteed SLAs, Quality of Service (QoS), Ethernet Operations, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAM&P), and sub-50 millisecond resiliency, allows Cox Communications to adjust bandwidth as the school system's needs change over time. The scalability provided by the dense 17-slot Atrica A-8100 chassis with 10 Gigabit Ethernet DWDM links and Atrica's expert network design capabilities were also cited as key reasons for the selection.
    "The Fujitsu FASST strategy with Atrica's Optical Ethernet Systems was the best solution we evaluated that met each of the rigorous business and technical demands this project presented," said Paul Schowalter, network transport engineering manager for Cox Communications in New Orleans. "While transporting potentially large flows of traffic across the network, transparency to the school network and honoring QoS markings from end-to-end were vitally important. Atrica's Layer 2 transparency with MPLS bandwidth control and QoS mechanisms allowed us to build a high performance network that supports all the multimedia applications the school system will run across it."
    "We were impressed by the commitment the Fujitsu-Atrica team demonstrated to ensure the New Orleans Parish School District has a state-of-the-art, cost-effective communications system that provides real value to the students and administration," continued Schowalter. "As we move forward toward a converged network, we know Fujitsu and Atrica, under the FASST strategy, will continue to provide the tools Cox needs to provide powerful solutions for our customers."
    FASST, executed as a partnership of innovative companies and led by Fujitsu, is an architecture and solution suite optimized for transition management. A key element of this transition is the migration of existing corporate data services and the introduction of new and emerging subscriber services. FASST enables service providers to manage the many transitions they must execute in order to deliver these services, while leveraging their existing infrastructure and the power of Carrier Ethernet technology.
    "We are very proud to have been selected and deployed by Cox Communications for this important converged network, and we are quite pleased that Atrica is now an approved vendor for all Cox Communications locations," said Vivek Ragavan, president of Atrica. "Cox Communications is recognized for its commitment to delivering leading-edge, vital communications services to its customers. The FASST strategy with our Optical Ethernet Systems allows them to do this rapidly, flexibly, and cost-effectively."
    "Many enterprise customers are beginning to make the transition from traditional TDM networks to advanced, converged packet-based networks," said Bill Erickson, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Fujitsu Network Communications. "Over the past 20 years, Fujitsu has helped execute some of the industry's most complex network transitions. We are well positioned to use our real-world network deployment experience and carrier-class supply chain infrastructure to help carriers, such as Cox Communications, exploit emerging technologies and introduce exciting new Ethernet services. We demonstrated this ability consistently throughout the deployment phase of this project and look forward to future opportunities within the FASST framework."

    About Cox Communications

    Cox Communications (NYSE:COX), a Fortune 500 company, is a multi-service broadband communications company with approximately 6.6 million total customers, including 6.3 million basic cable subscribers. The nation's fourth-largest cable television provider, Cox offers both analog cable television under the Cox Cable brand as well as advanced digital video service under the Cox Digital Cable brand. Cox provides an array of other communications and entertainment services, including local and long distance telephone under the Cox Digital Telephone brand; high-speed Internet access under the Cox High Speed Internet brand; and commercial voice and data services via Cox Business Services. Local cable advertising, promotional opportunities and production services are sold under the Cox Media brand. Cox is an investor in programming networks including Discovery Channel. More information about Cox Communications can be accessed on the Internet at www.cox.com.

    About Fujitsu Network Communications Inc.

    Fujitsu Network Communications Inc., leveraging Tokyo-based Fujitsu's unequalled and unique IT and Telecom portfolio, creates and delivers robust wireline and wireless solutions that boost next-generation communications networks in North America. Supported by over 150,000 professionals in more than 100 countries with revenues of $45 billion, Fujitsu helps its customers fuse information and networking technology with commercial value. For more information, please visit http://us.fujitsu.com/telecom.

    About Atrica

    Atrica's mission is to deliver the most cost-effective, high-performance Carrier Ethernet solutions to forward thinking service providers that are building next-generation metro networks. Its revolutionary, Carrier-class Optical Ethernet Systems are designed to allow carriers to dramatically simplify their Metro network operations, significantly reduce their capital and operational expenditures, effectively scale their networks to support emerging Ethernet-based services, and efficiently leverage the same transport network to serve both business and residential customers. Privately held, Atrica is based in Santa Clara, Calif., with R&D facilities in Israel and business development and sales offices throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia Pacific. The company has received a total of $134 million in funding to date, from world-class venture capital firms, industry leaders, and seven global service providers. For more information, visit Atrica on the Web at www.atrica.com.
    FASST(TM) is a trademark of Fujitsu Network Communications Inc. (USA). Atrica(R) and ASPEN(R) are registered trademarks or trademarks of Atrica Ireland Limited. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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CONTACT: Fujitsu Network Communications, Richardson John Stewart, 972-479-2055 john.stewart@us.fujitsu.com or Bob Laurent, 972-479-2055 bob.laurent@us.fujitsu.com or Cox Communications Bobby Amirshahi, 404-843-7872 bobby.amirshahi@cox.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA TEXAS LOUISIANA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: EDUCATION TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKING INTERNET E-COMMERCE PRODUCT MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Fujitsu Network Communications Inc.

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