Agere Systems And Agilent Technologies Announce Multisource Agreement For 10 Gigabit Ethernet Transceiver Physical Standards

Source: Agere Systems and Agilent Technologies

Breinigsville, PA. and Palo Alto, CA. Agere Systems, formerly known as the Microelectronics Group of Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU), and Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) today announced a multi-source agreement (MSA) for 10 Gigabit Ethernet fiber optic transceivers. The agreement is the first developed to support the proposed IEEE 10 Gigabit Ethernet interoperability standard, and specifies a uniform form factor, size, connector type and electrical pin-outs.

Agere and Agilent will independently develop 10 Gigabit Ethernet transceivers based on the proposed IEEE standard and this MSA. The MSA covers all four transceiver types defined in the proposed standard, including 850 nm serial, 1310 nm serial, 1310 nm WWDM and 1550 nm serial. It specifies transceiver modules not to exceed 38 mm (1.5 inches) wide, 121 mm (4.8 inches) long and 17.4 mm (0.7 inches) high. The specified dimensions will allow high port densities on typical line cards. The transceivers will be front-panel-pluggable devices, connecting to a host circuit board in the "Z" plane through a board-mounted card-edge connector. The optical interface will be a standard SC duplex fiber optic connector.

In addition, Tyco Electronics has designed, and will produce, a 70 pin electrical connector that connects the transceiver to the printed circuit board. The electrical input/output is based on the four wire XAUI (10 gigabit attachment unit interface) interface. The three companies will make the details of the MSA available to the industry so that other optical transceiver manufacturers can produce compatible products.

"Agilent and Agere are committed to supporting the Gigabit Ethernet standards developed by IEEE," said Euan Livingston, Agilent s Fiber Optic Business Unit marketing manager. "The pin-to-pin compatibility of transceivers from the two companies, and eventually others, will allow the devices to be used interchangeably. We plan to make the details of the MSA available to the industry shortly."

"This MSA offers a robust platform for all types of 10 Gigabit Ethernet devices," said Ed Cornejo, senior program manager at Agere Systems. "The design addresses the major challenges associated with 10 gigabit-per-second solutions, such as RFI issues, heat dissipation, manufacturability, pin assignments within the connector, and flexibility for other technologies. Our customers like the approach we ve taken."

The companies expect to begin shipping these new 10 Gigabit Ethernet transceivers in 2001.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. With 48,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent had net revenue of $10.8 billion in fiscal year 2000. Information about Agilent can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.

About Agere Systems

Agere Systems Inc., formerly known as the Microelectronics Group of Lucent Technologies, is the world leader in semiconductors for communications applications. Lucent has announced it intends to spin off Agere Systems as an independent company. Agere Systems offers integrated optoelectronics and integrated circuit solutions to help customers reduce the time and expense of developing new communications equipment. It also provides wireless computer networking solutions through its ORiNOCO product line. More information about Agere Systems is available from its Web site at http://www.agere.com.

Agilent Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, Agilent Technologies timing and ability to develop, produce and ship 10 Gigabit Ethernet transceivers based on the proposed IEEE standard and the features, functions and interchangeability of these devices with those produced by Agere Systems) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the results of Agilent Technologies to differ materially from management s current expectations. These and other risks are detailed in Agilent s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2000, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Agere Systems Safe Harbor Statement

This press release does not constitute an offering of any securities which will be made only by a prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current information available to the company as of the date hereof that involve risks and uncertainties. The company s actual results could differ materially from those results stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, completion of the distribution of Agere stock by Lucent Technologies Inc., price and product competition, keeping pace with technological change, dependence on new product development, reliance on major customers and suppliers, customer demand for our products and services, availability of manufacturing capacity, components and materials, control of costs and expenses, general industry and market conditions and growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations.

Contact: Glen Haley Agere Systems Tel: 908 508 8662 (office) Tel: 973 276 0295 (home) glenhaley@agere.com or Carl Blesch Agere Systems Tel: 908 508 8412 (office) Tel: 908 306 0784 (home) cblesch@agere.com or Mark Alden Agilent Technologies Tel: 408 435 6922 mark_alden@agilent.com