SAN JOSE, Calif. -- SABER, a business unit of a subsidiary of Schlumberger Limited that provides engineering outsourcing and professional project management services for the semiconductor industry, announced today that Layer N Networks, headquartered in Austin, Texas, has selected SABER Integrated Fabless Solutions (IFS) to accelerate the time-to-market for development of the Layer N UltraLock(TM) series of network security solutions in silicon. Layer N Networks, named the 2001 Fabless Start-Up Company of the Year by the Fabless Semiconductor Association, is developing ultra-high performance security processors to fundamentally alter the way Internet security is deployed. Layer N Networks UltraLock(TM) family of network security solutions can perform up to 100,000 SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) transactions per second, 25 times faster than today's hardware solutions and up to 1000 times faster than today's software implementations. SABER was selected to address their high-performance device needs with a highly integrated and cost-effective test solution providing tester interface hardware, development of test software, device characterization, access to silicon diagnostics and assistance in transferring the test cell to a production test facility. These important tasks call on SABER's broad array of technical and management skills to ensure that Layer N Networks will beat the time-to-market objectives for the new device. "Layer N Networks is developing network security processors that operate at blazing speeds and require a high performance test solution," stated Scott Herrington, vice president, IC Technology, Layer N Networks. "SABER was chosen for their professional project management skills, technical expertise and the resources to provide a complete test solution and access to silicon diagnostics." Layer N Networks Inc. Schlumberger Semiconductor Solutions