BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Network Elements Inc., the provider of high-speed Optical Networking Modules (ONMTM), today announced the industry's first multi-protocol processor for 10 Gigabit Ethernet LAN and WAN (10GbE), 10Gb/s Packet-over-SONET (POS) and 10Gb/s SONET/SDH optical networking. This chip also breaks new ground as the industry's first media access control (MAC) processor for 10 Gigabit (Gb/s) optical networking and as the industry's most flexible SONET overhead processor. The 10Gb/s multi-protocol processor will be incorporated in the company's Multi-protocol Module for 10GbE, POS and SONET applications, sampling in Q3, 2001.

"This is one of many firsts you will see from Network Elements," said Bruce Murdock, President and CEO of Network Elements, Inc. "With the multi-protocol technology integrated into our modules, network equipment providers can reduce time-to-market and costs while increasing product flexibility. We will continue to provide equipment manufacturers with leading-edge technologies as we integrate more functionality into our modular architecture to support higher speeds and advanced integration."

Network Elements Inc.