NEI Introduces Industry's Most Highly Integrated Multi-Vendor 10G ATCA Platform to Achieve NEBS Level 3 Certification

CANTON, Mass., March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NEI (Nasdaq: NENG), a leading provider of application platforms, appliances and lifecycle support services for OEMs and service providers worldwide, today announced that its A-13000 multi-vendor 10G ATCA (Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture) platform achieved NEBS (Network Equipment Building Systems) Level 3 Certification. This rigorous standard guarantees that equipment intended for use in telecom central office environments has met an extensive set of environmental and safety tests to ensure network performance and reliability under extreme conditions. NEBS testing was conducted at the frame level, with NEI's A-13000 and N-1500 R2 handling the application load and data throughput during operational simulations of a carrier-grade environment.

The A13000 provides carriers, service providers and telecommunications equipment manufacturers (TEMs) with an integrated, scalable and high-availability platform designed to accommodate the rapid deployment of wire-speed communication applications such as WiMAX and LTE. NEI has uniquely combined standard ATCA components from multiple vendors into a fully integrated and tested carrier-grade solution to create a platform on which Network Equipment Providers and TEMs can quickly and reliably deliver multimedia and other throughput-dependent applications.

"We leveraged technology from seven of our trusted technology partners including Emerson Network Power, Kontron, RadiSys, Pentair, Astute Networks, ZYNX Networks and Diversified Technologies to build the A-13000 platform," said Jeff Hudgins, vice president of marketing, NEI. By achieving NEBS Level 3 Certification with a fully integrated best-in-class platform, NEI successfully demonstrated its leadership capabilities using technologies that carriers need today. NEBS Level 3 Certification ensures that our A-Series 10G ATCA platforms are viable for use in carrier-grade central offices and can simplify installation, reduce maintenance costs and accelerate time-to-market."

The A-13000 includes 14 tool-less hot swap ATCA blades and integrates a standardized packet-switched backplane as well as a high-speed, node-based switching for board I/O and centralized management tools – perfect for next-generation, carrier-grade communication applications. NEI's lifecycle management services combine these open-standards components with a secure image including the customer's application, OS and any third party software. To support the needs of a carrier deployment, these systems are then integrated into a frame with additional hardware components and tested to deliver a complete solution.

"Service providers know they can rely on the NEBS Level 3 Certification as a tool for vetting hardware for central-office deployment," said Eric Heikkila, embedded hardware and systems lead analyst at VDC Research. "As service providers create integrated services to meet their customers' demand for seamless, converged communications, they'll increasingly turn to vendors such as NEI, who have taken the necessary steps to prove the required reliability through their standards-based integrated hardware approach."

NEI's NEBS Level 3 Certified A-13000 platform is available today. NEI offers a variety of deployment support and service programs, including 24-hour technical support, rapid response times and fast

parts replacement to assist customers with deployment, meet maintenance requirements, and to ensure high availability.

About NEI

NEI is a leading provider of application platforms, appliances and lifecycle support services for software developers, OEMs and service providers worldwide. Through its comprehensive suite of services that include solution design, integration control, support and other value-added service capabilities, NEI enables customers to more effectively deploy, manage, service and support their solutions. Founded in 1997, NEI is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts and trades on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol NENG. For more information about NEI's products and services, visit www.nei.com.

NEI and the NEI logo are trademarks of Network Engines, Inc.  All other names, brands and trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

SOURCE NEI