Press Release

NTS Certification Validates Carrier-Class Capabilities of ST200 Service Edge Router

Pittsburgh, PA - September 17, 2002 - Laurel Networks, Inc., the first provider of high-performance service edge routers, today announced that its flagship ST200™ Service Edge Router has passed NEBS Level 3 certification. NEBS Level 3 certification is the highest level of compliance within the telecommunications industry per Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC) and Telcordia guidelines and a critical requirement for carrier-class central office equipment deployment.

The commercially deployed ST200 achieved NEBS Level 3 certification after months of rigorous testing by National Technical Systems (NTS), certified as a Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory (NRTL) per OSHA and one of the few organizations in the world certified by Verizon per the Verizon Independent Test Laboratory program. NEBS Level 3 compliance verifies that the ST200 can withstand severe environmental events such as earthquake, fire and extreme temperatures.

"Achievement of stringent NEBS Level 3 certification validates the carrier-class performance built into the ST200 from the beginning," said Steve Vogelsang, vice president of marketing and co-founder of Laurel Networks. "NEBS certification accelerates our deployment into carrier networks at a time when service providers of all types are looking to evolve to more efficient, multi-service networks."

The ST200 was designed from the ground up to create profitable data services at the edge of an IP/MPLS backbone network. With a distributed, edge-optimized architecture combining Internet class routing, full port-by-port multi-service capabilities and a sophisticated service management infrastructure, the ST200 delivers services with unmatched performance, scalability and flexibility to support current and future service provider requirements.

"NEBS Level 3 is a critical requirement in many carrier networks, and achieving certification requires a commitment to carrier class performance, safety and reliability," said Mr. William C. McGinnis, president and COO of NTS. "We are pleased to add Laurel to the select group of service provider vendors who have achieved this milestone."

About Laurel Networks
Laurel Networks is the first provider of high-performance service edge routers designed and developed specifically for the edge of IP/MPLS networks. Laurel's flagship ST200 Service Edge Router includes the combination of features required to deliver high-value IP services, including: high-capacity routing and switching; rich bandwidth management functionality; and high-density, multi-service ports. Laurel Networks was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.laurelnetworks.com.