ALLEN, Texas, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ — Ceterus Networks Inc., provider of a unique "single virtual pipe" for transport of Metro Ethernet services, today announced it has installed the Universal Transport System UTS1000 in Neopolitan Networks' labs and is successfully passing live traffic. This combined field and lab test is the precursor to deployment in support of Neopolitan Networks' expansion in the Metro Ethernet business market. With the Ceterus Networks solution, Neopolitan Networks will deliver additional alternatives to meet end-user demands for flexible service offerings.

"The Ceterus solution will enable Neopolitan Networks to significantly increase the number of businesses we can address in each of our target market areas. We are now able to utilize both fiber and copper resources to deliver high-quality and cost effective Ethernet services to business needing bandwidth from 1Mpbs to 1GigE," stated Frank R. Robles, president and CEO of Neopolitan Networks. "As part of our continuing strategy to provide a wide variety of Ethernet services to the market, Ceterus' solution is an important piece of the puzzle — it's innovative, easy to install and helps us provide a great value to our customers."

"We're thrilled to be working with Neopolitan Networks, one of the fastest growing Ethernet Network Services Providers and naturally we're also pleased at how fast our system was installed and passing traffic during the lab testing," said Bill Szeto, president and CEO of Ceterus Networks. "Focusing on delivering a product that allows companies like Neopolitan Networks to fully utilize legacy and next-generation transport networks with very low first-port costs solves the existing roadblocks to delivering Ethernet service to businesses with broadband connections."

The Universal Transport System platform forms a secure end-to-end transport network using Ceterus Networks' patented technology, termed "multi- transport bonding architecture (MTBA)." This architecture enables service providers to utilize existing copper/fiber infrastructure to form a single point-to-point virtual fat pipe with the ability to transport multiple 10/100 or GigE clients simultaneously. MTBA effectively removes much of the initial first-port cost of delivering Metro Ethernet. The old concept of "no fiber, no Metro Ethernet" is replaced by "Metro Ethernet - Any Transport, Any Bandwidth."

The UTS1000 bonds all types of transport media into a "pool" of bandwidth by bonding the line-side facilities from DS1/E1 all the way to OCn into a single pipe. The UTS1000 operates transparently in the network enabling service providers to reuse existing Add Drop Multiplexers or other network elements. The UTS1000 then makes the most efficient use of the transmission facilities by enabling providers to offer services to multiple clients on the same bonded payload. Through the use of Quality of Service (QoS) parameters, clients can select service levels to meet their specific needs. The Ceterus solution also provides decoupling of client and line side operations. Service providers can add additional clients or adjust bandwidth capacity on the line side without service impact.

As the leading Ethernet Network Solutions Provider, Neopolitan Networks, Inc. delivers the highest performing and most cost-effective WAN and MAN communications services regionally, nationally and internationally. All these services are built upon Neopolitan's innovative architecture and complemented by a host of unique management software tools. This end-to-end Layer2 Ethernet approach allows companies to minimize set-up time and expenses. It also maximizes network flexibility and scalability-setting a new standard for performance. Neopolitan Networks is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. To learn more about our service offerings, please visit us at: www.neopolitan.com.

Press and Analyst Contact Information:

Press Relations Office
650-475-1383
pr@neopolitan.com

Ceterus Networks has revolutionized the metro telecom market by developing a "single virtual pipe" architecture that supports the delivery of flexible Ethernet services on demand. Ceterus' Universal Transport System (UTS) bonds all services into a single pool of bandwidth, enabling the re-use of existing infrastructure, both copper and fiber, for Ethernet services. Ceterus Networks is a privately held, venture-funded company founded in 2001 and headquartered in Allen, Texas. For more information, visit the company's web site at http://www.ceterusnetworks.com.

Original Press release © 2003 Ceterus Networks. All rights reserved.