Teradyne to Demonstrate NetFlare Internet Broadband Test System At SCTE Cable-Tec Expo

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 29, 2002--

Cable MSO's Can Verify Quality of Service (QoS) with Customer On Line

Teradyne, Inc. (NYSE: TER) Broadband Test Division will demonstrate the NetFlare(tm) Internet Broadband Test System at Cable-Tec Expo June 5 - 7 in San Antonio. NetFlare allows High Speed Data (HSD) subscribers and call center support agents to quickly identify the jurisdiction where Internet connection problems exists and to compare against the Internet QoS, Tiered Services, and Service Level Agreement (SLA) status provided by the cable operator or multiple ISP service providers. NetFlare achieves this via a deployment of a relatively small number of diagnostic test heads installed in strategic points of the network and does not require client software to be installed or downloaded onto the subscriber PC. NetFlare is capable of covering speeds from 19K bits to 8M.

Guided by easy to understand web interfaces, a subscriber experiencing a performance issue works interactively with call center personnel to resolve his or her problem. NetFlare uses patent pending techniques to provide fast, accurate identification of the owner of a broadband Internet service problem. Field data shows that average call handling time (ACHT) for performance related calls could be reduced by up to 65% with NetFlare.

"MSO's want a turnkey system that is easy to implement and is proven in the field," says Fred Scheu, Cable Business Development Director for Teradyne. "NetFlare requires no client software or third party interfaces and can be operational, including a half-day training session for call center support agents, in a matter of a few weeks. The system has been field proven for over a year and is testing over 150,000 subscribers."

NetFlare information helps operators increase the productivity and quality standards of the call center by:

-- Reducing Performance Call Handling Time at Tier 1 and Tier 2: Within two minutes, the call center operator is presented with the jurisdiction of the reported problem and a recommended action statement to either close the call, escalate, or route to repair. By rapidly identifying the jurisdiction of performance problems in the network, call center operators do not have to lead the subscriber in performing complicated technical tests to isolate problems.

-- Increasing `one-touches' by reducing trouble escalations to the back-office: Tier 1 or front-office network operations center representatives are given access and visibility of information allowing them to close calls at point of reception. This reduces the overall technical skill-level required to support broadband services. Handoffs and escalations to Tier 2 are reduced by 30%.

-- Verify Installation of New Services: MSO's can improve the service initialization process by providing the customer with reliable information from the start. Installers use NetFlare at the completion of a new installation to ensure the connection for speed, latency, packet loss, and connectivity between the consumers PC, through the Internet, to an enterprise web site. This reduces the time we spend online with customers determining Internet connectivity rates, and saves time for MSO's and customers.

NetFlare's server-based analysis system is comprised of Internet Diagnostic Units (IDU) installed at key jurisdiction boundaries in the network and a NetFlare Resource Broker (NRB) at a central location. This system architecture does not require any software at the subscriber's PC and therefore provides immediate availability to all consumers on installation. Furthermore, NetFlare's centralized architecture and analysis means that an entire network can be covered by rapidly deploying a small number of IDUs and requires no Operations Support System (OSS) integration to start using in the call centers.

NetFlare received the International Engineering Consortium's 2001 InfoVision award for its unique server-based architecture. Teradyne subject matter experts will be demonstrating NetFlare screen displays and sharing actual field data at booth #9009 at Cable-Tec Expo.

About Teradyne Broadband Test Division

Teradyne Broadband Test Division is a division of Teradyne, Inc (NYSE: TER). The group develops state-of-the-art-testing capabilities that support service provider's goals to sell and deploy more broadband services sooner and improve the efficiency of qualification, provisioning, and customer care for CATV high speed data networks. Teradyne's 10 years of internet protocol testing experience and industry leading background in layer 1 testing enhances its 30 years experience in providing test systems that support voice customer care for approximately 120 Million voice lines worldwide. Teradyne is the world's largest supplier of automatic test equipment and is also a leading supplier of high performance interconnection systems. The company had sales of $1.4 billion in 2001 and currently employs about 8000 people worldwide. For more information on Teradyne's Broadband Test Products, visit Teradyne at: http://www.teradyne.com/prods/btd/.

“NetFlare requires no client software or third party interfaces and can be operational, including a half-day training session for call center support agents, in a matter of a few weeks. The system has been field proven for over a year and is testing over 150,000 subscribers.”