Filed by Occam Networks Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933, and
deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Accelerated Networks, Inc.
Commission File No. 000-30741
Occam Networks Introduces Ethernet Protection Switching, Gives Ethernet in the
Access Network the Reliability and Resiliency of SONET at a Fraction of the Cost
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Feb. 12, 2002 - Occam Networks Inc. today
introduced Ethernet Protection Switching (EPS) an Occam-developed technology
that gives Ethernet the resiliency of SONET networks with a 50 msec fail-over to
a backup path in case of link or node failure. With EPS, the Occam Broadband
Loop Carrier (BLC) meets the `five nines" network availability required in
public telecommunications networks, enabling carriers to take advantage of the
cost savings and scalable bandwidth Ethernet provides. EPS is available with
Occam's BLC System, a complete Ethernet- and IP-based loop carrier that combines
the functionality of a DLC, DSLAM, and media gateway to deliver broadband data
and lifeline POTS from a single, converged access network.
"Reliability remains a key issue in deploying Ethernet in today's
telecommunications network," said Mark Rumer, Occam co-founder and chief
technology officer. "The Occam solution uses standard Ethernet silicon and
switching combined with our Ethernet Protection Switching to make networks using
Ethernet transport as resilient as SONET networks, while alleviating the ring
size and distance limitations of SONET. With EPS, carriers can also leverage the
high bandwidth and low cost of Ethernet in the access and metro networks without
compromising their voice and data services."
EPS offers several advantages over SONET technology, including greater
deployment flexibility. With EPS, carriers can implement a variety of network
topologies, including rings, star, and tree. There are no limits on network
length or the number of nodes on each network, and EPS can operate over copper,
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fiber, or other transport media. With its support for a wide variety of media
and network configurations, EPS give carriers maximum deployment flexibility
that translates directly to lower deployment costs.
A key feature of EPS is its dynamic use of bandwidth. Unlike SONET, where
protection links are idle and unused during normal operation, EPS uses all the
available bandwidth of all facilities to dynamically distribute network traffic
during normal operations. When there is a failure, all remaining bandwidth is
used according to QoS priorities.
"We are interested in the reliability and resilience that Occam's EPS
technology adds to Ethernet," said Jim Mitchell, president of Armstrong
Telephone. "We love the bandwidth that Ethernet offers and the economics are
compelling."
EPS also offers several benefits not available in other technologies such
as Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) and Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP). EPS uses
the standard Ethernet 802.3 MAC protocol, which is supported by all network
equipment unlike RPR, which requires silicon changes. The RPR standard will not
be complete before 2003, while EPS is available now. RSTP can detect link
failures, but may not detect node or equipment failures, and RSTP makes
inefficient use of access network bandwidth.
"Occam is committed to supporting industry standards, and we view EPS as a
unique application that uses standards-based technology to solve a problem
plaguing the industry - not as a competing standard," said Rumer. "We will make
our technology available to interested vendors and will continue to support all
standards that deliver cost-effective "five nines" availability."
EPS operates over predefined primary and alternate transport paths,
automatically switching to alternate paths on link or node failures. EPS
segments traffic into pre-configured Path Groups. Each Path Group uses a
heartbeat to ensure the link is operating properly. When a failure occurs, EPS
automatically switches the Path Group traffic to a "live" link in less than 50
msec, guaranteeing support for delay-sensitive services like voice and video.
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EPS Path Groups are created according to the 802.1q Virtual LAN (VLAN)
protocol, and each Path Group may contain multiple VLANs. The access network is
designed with overlapping Path Groups and with alternate paths for every node.
The network is a "legal" Ethernet network, since none of the VLANs creates a
closed ring.
About Occam Networks
Occam Networks Inc. develops and markets a suite of Broadband Loop
Carriers, innovative Ethernet- and IP-based loop carrier platforms that enable
incumbent local exchange carriers to profitably deliver a variety of traditional
and packet voice, broadband and IP services from a single, converged all-packet
access network. In November 2001, Occam Networks announced that it had signed a
definitive merger agreement with Accelerated Networks. The merger is expected to
close in the first quarter 2002, subject to the satisfaction of certain
customary closing conditions, including the approval of the stockholders of both
companies. Occam Networks is headquartered in Santa Barbara, Calif. Additional
information about the company can be found at www.occamnetworks.com.
Accelerated Networks has filed a Registration Statement on SEC Form S-4 in
connection with the merger. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus/Proxy
Statement filed with the S-4 contain important information about Occam. Free
copies of these documents are available through the Web site maintained by the
SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
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Product Safe Harbor
Except for historical information contained in this press release, the
foregoing contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Rapidly changing technologies and market conditions may require
changes to our products. Actual results may differ materially from those
indicated by such forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and
uncertainties, including the risks and
uncertainties relating to the timely and successful development, and market
acceptance of Occam's new products and features.
Contact:
Daphne Page Derek Fay
Director, Corporate Communications ConnectPR
Occam Networks, Inc. +1 801 373 7888
+1 805 692 2919 direct derekf@connectpr.com
dpage@occamnetworks.com
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