Madrid, Spain // 2005-10-04

Magnet Networks brings ADSL2+ triple play services to Ireland with PacketFront

Ingvar Gardarsson, CEO of Magnet Networks

PacketFront, the world leader in open access fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology and next generation broadband aggregation, has announced that Magnet Networks will be the first operator in the world to deploy its new BECS™ 3 triple-play control and provisioning system. The implementation was conducted by PacketFront on behalf of leading broadband solutions provider and systems integrator Industria. It enables Magnet to provide state-of-the-art multi-play services over ADSL2+, the first time this has been done in Ireland.

Already considered one of Europe’s most sophisticated broadband networks, Magnet Networks currently provides its subscribers with digital telephony, an initial offering of 65 TV channels and Ireland’s fastest broadband connectivity. Part of a €65 million network investment plan announced recently by the company’s parent, Columbia Ventures Corporation, the ADSL2+ roll-out and deployment of BECS 3 will now enable Magnet Networks to bring its triple-play services to potential customers in areas hitherto only covered by conventional copper telephone wire.

"There really is nothing available on the market today to beat the provisioning and automation technology of PacketFront’s BECS 3 system," said Ingvar Gardarsson, CEO of Magnet Networks. "By combining it with PacketFront’s unique IP DSLAM technology, we are now able to roll out ADSL2+ triple play services to a much wider audience of new customers, whilst maintaining the same high performance levels we already achieve over FTTH. Our network is one of the most sophisticated in Europe, so it stands to reason that we should be the first to deploy the most sophisticated broadband control and provisioning technology available."

"PacketFront’s BECS 3 control and provisioning system plays a leading role in Industria’s overall broadband BackOffice and integration software, for managing the different broadband services and the complex billing management which has been successfully deployed at Magnet Networks," says Industria CEO Gudjon Mar Gudjonsson.

The key components of Magnet’s ADSL2+ network will be PacketFront’s BECS 3 system and its ASR broadband routers, which provide the essential functionalities for control and provisioning of advanced services, such as carrier-class TV over IP, and enable unprecedented capacity and network scalability. BECS 3 enables Magnet to fully automate its triple play service delivery, giving users the ability to increase capacity and self-provision services for themselves, and thus cutting out the delay of waiting for a third party to make such changes. Furthermore, Magnet is deploying PacketFront’s unique IP DSLAM technology, the IPD 1248C, purpose-built for operators providing ADSL2+ in areas where fibre is not available for the last mile access network. With a bit rate of 29 Mbit/s downsteam and 3 Mbit/s upstream, the IPD 1248C enables triple-play services at locations never before thought possible, representing the same high performance of services to the end-user, as if connected via any other broadband access technology.

"We are very pleased to be advancing our relationship with Magnet Networks and Industria through the implementation of the BECS 3 system," said Michael Engström, VP Sales, Carriers EMEA at PacketFront. "Not only does BECS 3 make triple play services available to a wider range of customers, but it also helps operators such as Magnet to significantly reduce their OPEX via advanced automation features and end user self-provisioning. We look forward to further success with Magnet Networks and Industria in the future."

About Magnet Networks
Headquartered in Dublin, Magnet Networks utilises the latest in broadband technology to provide residential and business customers with multi-play digital telephony, Internet and television services. Magnet Networks is a fully owned subsidiary of US-based private equity investment company Columbia Ventures Corporation (www.colventures.com), holder of extensive telecoms interests on both sides of the Atlantic and elsewhere, and a sister company of Irish broadband wireless specialist service provider Leap Broadband (www.leap.ie) and Hibernia Atlantic (www.hiberniaatlantic.com), owner/operator of Ireland's only direct fibre-optic submarine cable link with North America and the UK.