Comtrend Continues Volume Deployment of ADSL2+ Residential Gateways

IRVINE, CA. - September 21, 2009

Comtrend Corporation, a global supplier of advanced networking solutions, continues its volume deployment of the NexusLink Bonded ADSL2+ Gateway with the announcement that three carriers have stepped up deployment of the product. Hargray Communications Group, Consolidated Communications and SureWest Communications have all selected Comtrend’s NexusLink as the ADSL2+ solution of choice.

“We’ve been extremely pleased with the performance of Comtrend’s NexusLink modem,?says Tony Stout, Network Engineering Manager at Hargray Communications, a quadruple-play provider of state-of-the-art telecommunications and related services. “Initial pilot results show the benefits of using NexusLink to be strong both on the performance side as well as from a cost perspective. Our plan is to ramp up monthly deployment to meet the continued growing demands from our customer for next-generation services such as IPTV or HD programming over copper. We view NexusLink as a key component of our strategy for growth.?_ The technology of Bonded ADSL2+ gives telecom companies an alternative to fiber by utilizing existing copper telephone lines at speeds of up to 48 Mbps of downstream throughput speed. ADSL2+ extends the capability of basic ADSL by doubling the number of downstream bits through combining two or more copper pairs as a single connection. At 1/20 the cost of fiber deployment, ADSL2+ gives carriers the ability to deliver high speed services at long distances from a Central Office.

NexusLink provides a single box solution to support Triple Play architectures and doubles the bandwidth performance of traditional ADSL2+ devices. The gateway has four 10/100 Ethernet ports, 802.11g wireless LAN, ADSL line supporting 2 pairs and USB interfaces including host function for peripheral devices. As a fully functional residential gateway, the NexusLink has full routing capabilities including traffic management and TR-069 capability. Comtrend was a pioneer and first to market with Bonded ADSL2+ CPE products in 2005.

“Comtrend has a reputation for building reliable networking products that provide exceptional value,” says Jill Callahan, Product Manager of High Speed Internet at Consolidated Communications. “Our initial rigorous lab testing of the gateways and subsequent field trials led to a successful rollout with minimal impact.”

About Comtrend Corporation

“The Comtrend NexusLink gateway performs well in the field with our service offerings,” says Bill DeMuth, senior vice president and chief technology officer of SureWest Communications. “Hardware and Software quality is a key component in ensuring we provide our customers with the best possible service.” “Comtrend has been an early proponent of the benefits of Bonded ADSL2+ modems, and these recent opportunities verify the strong market demand for the NexusLink gateway,?says John Castreje, General Manager, North America for Comtrend Corporation. “The NexusLink is the perfect blend of performance and value in an environment where communication companies are looking for ways to differentiate their service offerings within budgetary constraints. We anticipate continued strong growth for the NexusLink Bonded ADSL2+ Gateway with increased volume deployments.?_ With more than 10 million products installed, Comtrend is a leading global supplier of advanced networking solutions. Comtrend is a ISO-9001/14001 certified company that designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of networking equipment integrating ADSL, ADSL2+, Bonded ADSL2+, VDSL2, VOIP, IP STB Multimedia, Residential Wi-Fi, Auto Configuration Systems, Digital Signage Applications and High-Speed PLC technology. Comtrend is committed to a vision of bringing people together through technology and continues to realize this vision through a focus on innovation and superior service. Comtrend has its North America headquarters in Irvine, California, and offices in Spain, Brazil, the UK, France, the Czech Republic, China and Taiwan. For more information, visit the Comtrend web site at: www.comtrend.com

About Hargray Communications Group

Headquartered in Hilton Head Island, S.C., Hargray is a quadruple-play provider of state-of-the-art telecommunications and related services. The company’s service offerings include traditional telephone services, wireless services, high-speed Internet, and cable and IP television. The company also has a telephone directory publishing operation. For more information, please visit www.hargray.com.

About Consolidated Communications

Founded more than a century ago, Consolidated Communications (NASDAQ:CNSL) is a family of companies providing advanced communications services to both residential and business customers in Illinois, Texas and Pennsylvania. Consolidated Communications offers a wide range of services over its technologically advanced IP-based network, including local and long distance telephone, Digital Phone, High-Speed Internet access and Digital TV.

About SureWest

SureWest Communications (www.surewest.com) is one of the nation’s leading integrated communications providers and is the bandwidth leader in the markets it serves. Headquartered in Northern California for 95 years, the company expanded into the Kansas City region in February 2008 with the acquisition of Everest Broadband, Inc. and offers bundled residential and commercial services that include IP-based digital and high-definition television, high-speed Internet, Voice over IP, and local and long distance telephone. SureWest was the nation’s first provider to launch residential HDTV over an IP network and offers one of the nation’s fastest symmetrical Internet services with speeds of up to 50 Mbps in each direction on its fiber-to-the-home network.

Three ILECS Select the Comtrend NexusLink Bonded ADSL2+ for Delivery of High Speed Services While Controlling Costs