Service Assurance Software tests triple play services.

Press Release Summary:



Supporting end-to-end diagnostics for triple play services, Stratum(TM) service assurance platform will help integrate new IP-based network testing initiatives with existing platforms, providing integrated test analysis across variety of access technologies. Program supports multiple data inputs from customer's network and test resources and performs combinational expert system analysis of faults in access network to enable effective dispatching of field resources.



Original Press Release:



Tollgrade Introduces Stratum(TM) Service Assurance Platform for Testing Triple Play Services for Telecom Operators



PITTSBURGH, Aug. 27 /-- Tollgrade Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLGD) today announced the launch of its new service assurance platform solution, called Stratum(TM). After nearly a year in development, Stratum is being introduced to telecom providers to help integrate new IP-based network testing initiatives with existing platforms, thus providing integrated test analysis across a variety of access technologies. The Stratum service assurance platform is being designed to support end-to-end diagnostics for triple play services with the goal of providing telecom operators with a higher degree of reliable service delivery in a very competitive consumer market.

Stratum will support multiple data inputs from a customer's network and test resources, including Tollgrade's existing 4TEL , Celerity and LoopCare(TM) software platforms and test probes, and perform combinational expert system analysis of faults in the access network to enable more effective dispatching of field resources.

Stratum is currently being deployed in trials with customers in the United States and South America. Tollgrade will present Stratum to the global customer market at upcoming telecom trade events in Paris and Chicago during the next two months. It is expected to be generally available to the market by the end of this year.

"Stratum is our latest response to the increasing importance of automated system testing among telecom operators as they strive to improve network reliability with the pressure to reduce capital and operating expense," said Joseph Ferrara, Tollgrade's Chairman, President and CEO.

"This will be the first release of Tollgrade's software platform strategy to support testing of next generation architectures and services. Stratum is one part of our strategy to support the transformation of Tollgrade's telecom business," added Ferrara.

In commenting on the new service assurance solution, Patrick Kelly, Research Director and industry analyst, Analysys Mason, said "Tollgrade has developed this platform with the needs of the customer service organization in mind, ensuring those teams have the information to know the root cause of a trouble report, and how to quickly and effectively respond to it. This customer service response is especially important for supporting complex triple play services such as IP video where fast fault isolation is necessary to get customers' service restored as quickly as possible."

"The Stratum solution effectively leverages Tollgrade's global embedded test system software while integrating new and existing testing applications and data analysis for telecom operators," said Chris Barton, Tollgrade's Executive Director of Technical Marketing. "Based on a representative model, the Stratum platform can achieve operational payback in 12 to 18 months. In addition, we anticipate on-going development of this product line through various partnerships in an effort to widely deploy this software system test solution," added Barton.

About Tollgrade

Tollgrade Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of network service assurance products and services for centralized test systems around the world. Tollgrade designs, engineers, markets and supports centralized test systems, test access and next generation network assurance technologies. Tollgrade's customers range from the top telecom providers, to numerous independent telecom and broadband providers around the world. Tollgrade's network testing, measurement and monitoring solutions support the infrastructure of telecom companies, as well as for power distribution companies. For more information, visit Tollgrade's web site at www.tollgrade.com.

CONTACT: Bob Butter, Communications, Tollgrade Communications, Inc.,
+1-412-820-1347, bbutter@tollgrade.com

Web Site: www.tollgrade.com/

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