November 28, 2001 -- Turnstone Systems (Nasdaq: TSTN) announced the introduction of a new, automated solution that facilitates the management of Unbundled Network Elements (UNEs). This solution, which consists of Turnstone's new MX500 Copper CrossConnect platform and ONYX UNE software, automates the copper loop "cut-over" process, allowing service providers to meet delivery times and avoid regulatory fines when delivering wholesale services.

With Turnstone's new solution, Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) may be able to reduce the costs and labor associated with maintaining and delivering wholesale copper loops to Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs), be it for the delivery of Plain Old Telephone Services (POTS), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), or other telecommunications services. Turnstone's UNE management solution is currently in field trials with a major ILEC and will handle live customer cut-over orders for wholesale subscribers.

The MX500 Copper CrossConnect platform is placed in central offices, serving as a demarcation point between ILECs and alternate providers. It offers metallic switching capabilities that are used to handle the cut-over of unbundled copper loops from one service provider to another, while maintaining consistent dial tone throughout the entire transfer process. An integrated testhead is used to provide remote service verification, corroborating the accuracy of the cut-over procedure during the allocated time window.

ONYX UNE software resides in a Network Operations Center (NOC) and is used to identify, coordinate, schedule and analyze all tasks involved in the cut-over process. The ONYX software schedules all work steps required for service transfer, and remotely controls the MX500 to insure that these transfers are performed accurately.

By using ONYX UNE software in conjunction with the MX500, a single ILEC NOC technician may be able to manage service transfers remotely. By eliminating the need for coordinated inside and outside plant dispatches, this can improve the speed with which cut-overs are delivered and reduce the costs associated with wholesale service delivery. In addition, the Turnstone solution may improve the accuracy of service transfer, which helps service providers avoid labor costs and regulatory penalties that may be associated with missed delivery windows. Finally, by preserving dial tone throughout the entire transfer process, Turnstone helps to make the loop cut-over process seamless to end users.

The MX500 is a rack-based product designed for deployment in a central office. It provides cut-over capabilities for up to 2,750 copper loops in a single rack, with capacity added in 25 pair increments. The MX500 includes testing features to verify cut-overs and provide ongoing fault analysis.

ONYX UNE software is delivered as a network appliance that can be accessed via standard web interfaces (HTML). ONYX has interfaces to key Operations Support Systems (OSSs) to enable flow through provisioning and maintenance in conjunction with other back office systems.

The MX500 and ONYX UNE software are in trials today and will be generally available 1Q02.

-End-