"Gigabit to the Classroom" -
fastest school network in the world!
Spokane, Washington, November 7, 2002 - Tylite, Inc., a Pacific Northwest company that aims to be the premier system integrator of high-speed Ethernet over Fiber networks, today announced they have completed the world's first implementation of a "Gigabit to the Classroom" network for Central Valley School District #356.
Central Valley awarded the project to Tylite to link two new high schools, one middle school and one elementary school to the school district administration building. The project included labor, materials, equipment, installation and maintenance of the Wide Area Network (WAN) for the school district.
"Our new district network is performing as designed by Tylite, delivering Gigabit bandwidth right to the classroom," said George Amend, Instructional Technology Supervisor. "Our teachers and students have ready access to video, data and video conferencing applications for instructional services."
Amend adds, "Tylite's network design is well-engineered, well-installed and well-supported - their project team has been diligent in ensuring the highest level of performance with all aspects of this installation."
Over 80 rooms in each new high school are connected via fiber to Gigabit Ethernet switches and to the WAN or Educational Metropolitan Area Network (EMAN). The network carries voice, video and data services, enabling teachers, students and faculty to instantaneously access learning and communication resources at 1000 Megabits per second (Mbps). Using Smart Bits network test equipment, Tylite measured network traffic speeds and load conditions to validate that the network met expectations as established by the contract.
Working closely with Foundry Networks, SMC Networks and RAD Data Communications, Tylite provided a next-generation fiber network infrastructure for Central Valley that not only supports their long-term education goals, but also minimizes annual operating costs associated with individual school servers and legacy phone services. RAD's "TDM over IP" technology is used to deliver phone service to the new schools over the Gigabit Ethernet infrastructure.
In addition to the integration services, Tylite provides user training and second tier service and maintenance.
"We were pleased to be chosen to implement this Gigabit network," said Jim Wilson, President and CEO of Tylite. "Central Valley now has the ability to provide instructional content to their students with a "best-in-class" network at a price point which was significantly lower than the other bidders."
Tylite is also continuing development of its unique Future Prooftm Fiber to the Home technology for cities that want to combine school networks with Fiber to the Home networks.
About Tylite, Inc.
Since early 2000, Tylite has steadily been building a portfolio of client projects in the Western U.S. With expertise in consulting services, network design and build-out, and service operations, Tylite has leveraged state-of-the-art design techniques and superior vendor partnerships to develop application-rich services and future-proof next-generation, multi-functional networks for educational institutions, developers, municipalities and utilities.
Tylite has two subsidiaries; Ptera Wireless, which offers wireless Internet service in parts of Spokane and Kootenai Counties, and Priority Terabit, Inc., a competitive local-exchange carrier (CLEC) which may provide local telephone service over the fiber networks Tylite installs.
Tylite is a privately-held corporation based in Liberty Lake, Washington. For more information on Tylite, please visit our Web site at www.tylite.com.
About Foundry Networks
Foundry Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FDRY) is a leading provider of high-performance enterprise and service provider switching, routing and Web traffic management solutions including Layer 2/3 LAN switches, Layer 3 Backbone switches, Layer 4 - 7 Web switches and Metro Routers. For more information about the company and its products, call 1-888-TURBOLAN or please visit www.foundrynetworks.com
About RAD Data Communications
Established in 1981, privately-owned RAD Data Communications (www.rad.com) has achieved international recognition as a major manufacturer of high quality access equipment for data communications and telecommunications applications. These solutions serve the data and voice access requirements of service providers, incumbent and new carriers, and enterprise networks, by reducing infrastructure investment costs while boosting competitiveness and profitability. Worldwide sales reached $200 million in 2000. RAD is a member of the $600 million RAD Group of companies, a world leader in networking and internetworking product solutions.
About SMC Networks
SMC takes the work out of networks, with high-performance, easy-to-use connectivity products for businesses and homes. SMC Networks has set the standards for quality, reliability, ease-of-use, and affordability in network solutions and components. The company's commitment to providing unsurpassed service with a personal touch is backed-up by limited lifetime warranties and 24/7 technical support for all of SMC's products. For more information about SMC Networks or its products, visit www.smc.com, or call 800-SMC-4You (800-762-4968).
Future Proof Fiber, FPF and the Tylite logo are trademarks of Tylite Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.