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Bell Canada, BellSouth, SBC Communications Inc. and Verizon work with the DSL Forum to increase adoption of DSL-based home networks and delivery of new IP-based applications





Fremont, CA - (August 19, 2003) - North America's leading high-speed digital subscriber line (DSL) Internet access providers - Bell Canada, BellSouth, SBC Communications Inc., and Verizon - today announced their support of DSLHome™, a major DSL industry initiative to help spur the adoption of DSL-based home networks that will deliver advanced voice, video and data services.

The DSLHome initiative is spearheaded by the DSL Forum, an industry consortium dedicated to developing the full potential of DSL to benefit the global community. The aim of the DSLHome initiative is to both drive technical innovations that ensure DSL is the best broadband access for online families and teleworkers, and to help Internet users better understand and easily establish DSL-based home networks. The DSL Forum is working to establish an industry accepted networking architecture that will support fast, reliable and secure connections to the Web and/or virtual private networks by multiple users, and to initiate a global consumer education program.

"We are extremely pleased to see the service provider community working closely with the DSL Forum to set the stage for home networking excellence," said Tom Starr, chairperson and president of the DSL Forum. "DSL is the ideal broadband access technology to support a home network. Through the collaboration of key telecom industry players with the DSL Forum, we will empower consumers to take better advantage of all the great broadband applications and services available today and in the future."

According to a May 2003 report by Forrester Research, more than 25% of broadband homes in North America currently have home networks, and by 2008, that number will grow to 44%.

As part of the DSLHome initiative, Bell Canada, BellSouth, SBC Communications Inc. and Verizon will work with global service providers, vendors and other prominent organizations to share best practices and infrastructure requirements to meet the growing consumer need for superior home networking solutions.

"As the North American leader in DSL penetration, Bell Canada supports the collaboration of the DSL Forum with industry leaders to foster innovation in DSL technologies that will further integrate voice, video and data applications," said Trevor Anderson, senior vice-president of Technology for Bell Canada. "The DSLHome initiative is one way in which Bell Canada is working to deliver simple and practical networking solutions for home Internet users."

At the upcoming DSL Forum meeting in Boston (September 2-5, 2003) the four companies, along with other industry participants, will present a proposal about a home networking architecture that will allow providers to offer their customers the most advanced IP-based voice, video and data services. In the first quarter of 2004, the companies also will present a joint contribution defining ADSL Residential Gateway requirements.

"Home networking is the platform for the next generation of applications that will bring added benefits to consumers," said Ed Cholerton, vice president, SBC Internet Product Management. "We are committed to mainstreaming DSL, making it the technology of choice, and providing our customers access to home networking so they will be well positioned to take full advantage of future broadband-enabled services."

In addition, the providers are contributing to a consumer education campaign, which conveys the benefits and simplicity of home networking solutions for people using DSL services. Some of the educational materials produced in conjunction with the DSL Forum include three new DSL user guides:

The ABC's of Broadband Powered Home Networks
How to Select and Set Up the Right Home Network Solution
Technical Guide: Installing DSL Powered Home Networks
"Home networking captures the power of broadband by introducing countless opportunities to extend the benefits of DSL beyond a single PC," said Michael Bowling, vice president of DSL Marketing for BellSouth. "Technology advances and wireless networking are creating a more seamless home entertainment environment where the Internet, personal communications, online learning, gaming and multimedia content all converge. DSL will be a primary driver of this convergence and the results of the DSL Home initiative will significantly accelerate this progress."

About the DSL Forum
Established in 1994, the DSL Forum is an international industry consortium of nearly 200 leading service providers, equipment manufacturers and other interested parties, focused on developing the full potential of broadband DSL to meet the needs of the mass market. With the established goal of 200 million customers by 2005, the DSL Forum works to streamline processes, develop specifications and share best practices that set the stage for effective deployments, and explosive global DSL growth. By developing new standards and embracing new applications, the DSL Forum is tailoring DSL to meet the needs of the next generation of multi-media services and the online community. More information about DSLHome™ and the DSL Forum is available on http://www.dslforum.org/aboutdsl/dslhome_index.html. Information tailored to DSL end-users is available on http://www.dsllife.com.


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