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PRESS RELEASE: Spirent(R) Communications Teams with ADVA Optical Networking to Deliver End-to-End Ethernet Service Assurance
ROCKVILLE, Md. & MAHWAH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2006--
Unique combined solution clears the way for service providers to cost-effectively introduce and scale intelligent Ethernet services

Spirent Communications (NYSE:SPM)(LSE:SPT) and ADVA Optical Networking (FWB:ADV), a leading provider of intelligent Ethernet demarcation devices, today announced an interoperability partnership. The partnership empowers Ethernet service providers to guarantee service assurance to business customers and compete more effectively.
"Service providers are facing a downward revenue trend as their traditional Frame Relay and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) businesses are displaced by Ethernet and IP-based services," said Nick Maynard, senior analyst, Yankee Group. "Providing end-to-end Ethernet service assurance with this offering, while containing their OPEX as the service scales, will definitely bolster their business services model and may help to slow this trend."
Enterprises are increasingly demanding low-cost Ethernet services; however, service providers do not have enough visibility into the entire network to be able to guarantee service levels. With this partnership, Spirent and ADVA enable them to cost effectively offer service level assurance from the customer premise equipment (CPE) to the edge and across the core of the network, in a way that leverages expert diagnostics and analysis technologies.
Spirent will integrate its SmartSight(TM) service management solution and REACT(R) Test Operations Support System with ADVA's Etherjack(R) demarcation and extension devices. The combined offering provides a transport and service assurance solution, optimizing deployment costs and service management. This partnership furthers Spirent's mission to enable service providers to validate service readiness and emulate the customer experience, rapidly isolate trouble to minimize maintenance costs and customer downtime, and develop scalable operations through automation to improve their competitiveness.
"The competitive landscape of Ethernet service delivery is intensifying rapidly," added Fred Ellefson, ADVA's vice president, of Etherjack Alliances. "By teaming with Spirent, we enable carriers to verify service level agreements (SLAs) and offer a more intelligent differentiated Ethernet service. This allows a carrier to more effectively compete for larger, higher-margin enterprise accounts."
Ethernet was developed as a Local Area Networking (LAN) technology, but is migrating to Wide Area Networks (WAN). Beginning with this initial foray into the Ethernet market, the two companies plan to continue to work together in developing solutions for advanced IP-based services, such as Voice over IP (VoIP).
"Our partnership with ADVA will assist service providers in both the service validation at provisioning as well as troubleshooting during the maintenance lifecycle," said Jeff Schmitz, vice president of marketing, Spirent Communications. "It will help ensure that service providers get it right the first time and are able to effectively scale Ethernet support."
ADVA's Etherjack technology will run under the control of the Spirent SmartSight solution to manage automated, end-to-end service testing for Ethernet services. This will enable comprehensive IP/Ethernet testing over the entire network. Tests can be run between Spirent's QoS Scope/SmartSight Broadband Remote Testing Unit (BRTU) and ADVA's Etherjack, with automation and expert analysis in REACT.
As the service scales, the solution will reduce dispatches by providing remote operations administration and maintenance (OAM) capabilities, as well as automated testing and diagnostics. The service provider can quickly isolate the problem and determine whether it originates on the provider or customer network.
ADVA's Etherjack will also verify Service Level Agreement (SLA) compliance of Ethernet service through its Etherjack Service Assurance (ESA) capability that supports the in-service measurement of Ethernet SLAs. This allows Ethernet to replace traditional Frame Relay, ATM and Private Line data services for mission-critical enterprise applications.
About ADVA Optical Networking
ADVA Optical Networking (FWB:ADV) is at the forefront of providing Optical+Ethernet solutions that advance next-generation networks for data, storage, voice and video services. ADVA's strength comes from passionate and dedicated employees, all sharing a common vision: a fast, customized response to customers' ever-changing needs. Our innovative Fiber Service Platform (FSP) and strong customer focus provide carriers and enterprises the ability to scale their networks and deliver intelligent, competitive new services. ADVA's solutions have been deployed at more than 100 carriers and 5,000 enterprises in more than 40 countries worldwide. For further information about ADVA: www.advaoptical.com.
About Spirent Communications
Spirent Communications (www.spirentcom.com) is a global provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technology such as Internet Telephony, broadband services, 3G wireless, global navigation satellite systems, and network security equipment. Spirent's solutions are used by more than 1,500 customers in 30 countries, including the world's largest equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprises and governments. Based in Rockville, Maryland, Spirent Communications reported 2005 revenue of $403.3 million and has 1,700 employees worldwide. The company is the largest business group of Spirent plc, traded on the London and New York Stock Exchanges (LSE:SPT)(NYSE:SPM)(CUSIP number:84856M209). www.spirent.com. Spirent Communications' sales to the United States government are made through Spirent Federal Systems. www.spirentfederal.com.

Spirent, Spirent Communications and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spirent plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are held by their respective companies. All rights reserved.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These risks include the risks described from time to time in Spirent plc's Securities and Exchange Commission periodic reports and filings. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT: Spirent Communications Parag Sheth, 301-648-0289 [e-mail] or Calysto Communications for Spirent Communications Sailaja Tennati, 404-266-2060 ext. 25 [e-mail] or Media Relation for ADVA Optical Networking Christine Keck, 201-258-8293 (U.S.) (49) 89-89-0665 0 (Europe) (81) 3-5408-5891 (Asia) [e-mail] or Investor Relation for ADVA Optical Networking Wolfgang Guessgen, 201-258-8300 (U.S.) (49) 89-89-0665 240 (Europe) (81) 3-5408-5891 (Asia) [e-mail] SOURCE: Spirent Communications Copyright Business Wire 2006
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
03-20-06 0906ET