ECI Announces New Cross Connect

ECI Telecom Ltd., (Nasdaq symbol: ECIL), a leading Israeli provider of digital and optical telecom network solutions, today announced the development of the A : :DAX, its next generation cross connect systems powered by IBM semiconductor technology. The A : :DAX is designed to allow carriers to effectively manage the growing volume of Internet and telephony traffic transmitted across telecom networks.

ECI Telecom's A::DAX cross-connect system is designed for data-centric telecom networks, based on high-speed protocols such as ATM, MPLS and the rapidly-expanding Internet Protocol (IP). Until recently, such communication was handled according to telephone standards such as SONET and SDH. The A : :DAX provides Next Generation networks with the SONET and SDH reliability, while keeping such networks efficient and flexible.

This new family of ECI Telecom's cross-connects incorporates advanced IBM technology, including the innovative IBM 28.4 Gbps Packet Routing Switch, developed at IBM's research and development centres based in Zurich, Switzerland and La Gaude, France. The chips are manufactured at IBM Microelectronics' Burlington, Vermont (US) plant.

"We looked for an experienced supplier who could provide us with the levels of support necessary to ensure continuity over various generations of technology," explained Ruben Marcus, Corporate VP and General Manager of ECI Telecom's Transport Networks SBU. "The decision to work with IBM was based on their industry-leading silicon technology, design tools and support."

ECI Telecom plans to launch A: :DAX in the United States later this year and will conduct beta testing with a number of the world's leading service providers. A further model of the A : :DAX is planned for the second half of the year, which will provide double the current capacities.

"In the future, we will further enhance the A : :DAX to support capacities of terabits per second," confirmed Marcus. "Such speeds are necessary to support multimedia communications and applications such as video-on-demand."/p> "IBM benefits from this cooperation which provides us with access to expertise we in the field of innovative Next Generation network technology", said Shaul Cohen, regional manager for IBM Microelectronics, Israel.

Adds Cohen: "The performance demands on networks like the Internet are increasing daily and equipment makers need to deliver versatile and scalable voice and data networking solutions to their customers. IBM's chip technology provides a flexible building block which can help ECI's system to effectively meet bandwidth requirements while effectively controlling data traffic."

http://www.ecitele.com/radax_ibm.htm