NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Tellabs (Nasdaq: TLAB)and Telcordia will define the requirements for the development of an importantnew feature for the Telcordia Operations Support Systems (OSSs) to helpcarriers speed their Ethernet service deployments. The new feature, SONETvirtual concatenation, will be developed under the Telcordia(TM) GenericFeature Development Services (GFDS) Program. The software solution will helpenable the incumbent local exchange carriers to efficiently add Ethernetservices over their existing SONET bandwidth using virtual concatenatedsynchronous payload envelopes (SPEs). The software system solution includes feature enhancements to theTelcordia(TM) TIRKS(R) System, Telcordia(TM) NMA(R) System and Telcordia(TM)Transport Element Activation Manager System, among others. The softwaresolution will support inventory, alarming and the automated flow-throughprovisioning of the capacity for Ethernet services. With this new development, the Telcordia OSSs will support the Tellabs(R)6400 transport switch, the industry's first scalable Ethernet-over-SONETvirtual concatenation (EoS-VC) system, which enables carriers to support up tofive times more data traffic on their networks without stranded bandwidth orthe added cost of an overlay network. "By teaming with Telcordia, Tellabs will enable metro service providers toprotect billions of dollars of existing capital investments while offeringhigh-speed data services to customers," said Ed Kennedy, senior vice presidentof the Tellabs metro networking group. "This is another example of Tellabs'commitment to helping our customers move communications more efficiently whileoptimizing their network investments."In a separate release:PETALUMA, Calif. -- Turin Networks, Inc. today announced its participation in the development of an important new feature for the Telcordia OSSs including the Telcordia™ TIRKS® System, NMA® System, and Transport Element Activation Manager, NSDB System, WFA/C System, and WFA/IX System. The feature, virtual concatenation of SONET Synchronous Payload Envelopes (SPEs), is significant for major carriers such as RBOCs because it enables new, revenue-generating Ethernet, and FICON/ESCON Fiber Channel services to be transported with optimal efficiency over the ubiquitous and reliable SONET transport infrastructure."This investment is an important milestone for Turin," said John Webley, president and CEO of Turin Networks. " It highlights our commitment to strategic technologies that provide value to established carriers. Our industry-leading Traverse™ platform leverages SONET virtual concatenation and advanced Ethernet capabilities to help our incumbent carrier customers create new revenue streams and lower their operational costs.""This feature is important for incumbent carriers because it enables them to leverage their large SONET installed base for new data services, with efficient utilization of bandwidth," said Dennis Tinley, vice president, Customer Solutions, Telcordia. "Telcordia and Turin are committed to creating solutions to support services for carriers that will enable them to offer cost-effective solutions to meet the demands of their customers, while realizing greater ROI."Tellabs Inc.Turin Networks Inc.Telcordia Technologies Inc.