MINNEAPOLIS -- ADC (NASDAQ:ADCT)(www.adc.com) today announced that TBayTel, Thunder Bay Telephone, is using ADC's LoopStar(TM) 800 next-generation SONET access system to provide Ethernet services and DSL transport to its business customers in rural areas of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Using a single-platform, TBayTel, the first North American service provider to deploy the LoopStar system, is serving business customers within the TBayTel serving area with low-cost Ethernet services using an OC-3 point-to-point configuration. The company also plans to use the LoopStar 800 to extend the reach of DSL services and provide greater bandwidth to existing customers. TBayTel can easily add new services or new customers within the same platform to generate additional revenues, while minimizing further capital expenditures.

"We're excited about the ADC LoopStar 800 system in our network," said George Armstrong, Network Engineering and Operations for TBayTel. "The highly scalable platform and its robust multi-service capabilities allowed us to save eight fiber strands, double our capacity to these serving areas and recover hard-to-find equipment that can be used in other applications. All of these represent significant cost savings to our company."

Featuring advanced management capabilities and a web-based local craft terminal (LCT), the LoopStar 800 enabled TBayTel to avoid the operational complexity of managing multiple systems and the installation of an expensive element management system that requires a dedicated server. Designed for both central office and customer premises environments, the system offers a compact, modular design and low power consumption that significantly reduce operational costs and simplify deployment.

"We are pleased to work with Thunder Bay Telephone in providing reliable, cost-effective solutions for its customers," said Mark McDonald, vice president of product management and marketing of the Wireline Systems Business Unit for ADC. "With the LoopStar 800 system, TBayTel can optimize its current network to help retain customers and service revenue as well as generate new revenue through the system's advanced multi-service transport and networking capabilities."

"ADC provided first-class service and support from product configuration and staging to speed of equipment delivery," said Armstrong. "We are delighted with how easy the installation and turn-up of the ADC LoopStar 800 system has been."

ADC Telecommunications Inc.