nGenius to optimize 3G networks

May 5, 2005

NetScout Systems, a provider of network and application performance management solutions, announced the expansion of its product architecture to meet emerging opportunities in the telecommunications sector. Unveiling its new nGenius Packet-over-SONET Probe for OC-48c/STM-16c environments, NetScout is the first vendor to offer direct, centralized, application-aware network performance management to carriers with high-speed optical networks. Mobile service providers offering multimedia and Internet services are leading the demand for these capabilities as they roll out 3G core networks worldwide, focused on protecting service quality and maximizing customer retention.

"OC-48 occupies the sweet spot for metro optical markets and supplies a strong portion of the long haul market. Driving its deployment are consumer broadband and corporate traffic, as well as demand for mobile telephony and data traffic in 2.5G and 3G networks," said Michael Howard, principal analyst of Infonetics Research. "This is a natural move for NetScout, as its products can improve time-to-market for carriers in new network and services rollouts. As traffic increases in these complex backbones, NetScout products provide operations managers the detailed information required to ensure quality of experience for all customers using the network at any moment."

Mobile data traffic is expected to grow rapidly, as more consumers begin using mobile phones for e-mail, Web access, video, photography and newer offerings such as personal banking and roaming Wi-Fi. The anticipation of this growth has caused service providers to begin embracing new operational management practices, such as application-aware bandwidth management, traffic identification and application profiling.

The expansion of NetScout's nGenius Performance Management Solution to embrace OC-48/STM-16 complements existing nGenius Probes actively deployed in OC-3 and OC-12 (STM-1 and STM-4 internationally) environments for several years. Over a dozen of the new probes have already been deployed to a major US mobile service provider's new 3G network. NetScout's customers in the telecom industry have also grown steadily. More than 30 major telecommunications carriers in the United States, Europe and Asia currently use the nGenius Solution to manage their core and back office networks, with a significant portion of those customers representing the mobile communications sector.

"With the nGenius Solution, carriers can protect service growth and quality while managing and extending the life of their networks. NetScout is achieving growing success within the telecom sector by introducing targeted products like the nGenius OC-48c Probe," said Michael Szabados, senior vice president of product operations for NetScout Systems.

The nGenius Packet-over-SONET Probe for OC-48c/STM-16c environments provides full features and benefits delivered by the nGenius Solution, including:

-- Complete real-time and historical visibility for managing and optimizing the design, rollout and upgrades of core and back office networks -- up to OC-48 or STM-16 speeds.

-- Built-in capabilities for fast analysis of complex network configurations, including redundant link aggregation and correlation of point-to-point performance data into logical views of infrastructure performance.

-- Advanced recognition, utilization and response time tracking for all types of network traffic including IP telephony, multimedia, custom- developed and data applications, with support for QoS, MPLS and Virtual Circuits.

-- Intuitive Web-based console with task-oriented data visualization, pre- configured and customizable report content.