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Tekelec's Taqua Group Lands 100th Switching Customer
[April 20, 2004]

Tekelec's Taqua Group Lands 100th Switching Customer

RICHARDSON, Texas --(Business Wire)-- April 20, 2004 -- Tekelec (Nasdaq:TKLC), a leading developer of telecommunications signaling, switching, and application solutions for now and next-generation networks, today announced that its newly acquired switching division (formerly Taqua, Inc.) reached the 100th customer milestone with the purchase of the iX7000(TM) Class 5 packet switch by Oregon-based Axxis Communications, Inc.



Charlie Vogt, president, sales and marketing for North America, the Caribbean, and Latin America for Tekelec, and CEO of the former Taqua, said, "Demand for the iX7000 has been strong, fueled by service providers' need for cost-effective next-generation switching solutions capable of providing a full set of Class 5 circuit and packet capabilities. The iX7000 switch is easily scalable and specifically designed for companies with up to 5,000 lines -- 70 percent of Class 5 switches worldwide actually serve 5,000 lines or fewer."

Axxis Communications is a newly formed subsidiary of Gorge Networks (www.gorge.net) established to provide facilities-based voice services. Gorge Networks was established in 1995 to provide Internet access to the residential and business markets in and around the area of the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Gorge provides a full range of Internet access and related services, including digital subscriber line (DSL), wireless broadband, dial-up, and leased-line services to cities throughout northern Oregon and southern Washington.


Erik Lundby, vice president of network operations at Gorge Networks, Taqua's 100th customer, explained the company's decision to choose the iX7000 as its first facilities-based switch, "While we looked at several next-generation switches, the iX7000 had the best combination of features, price, and scalability for our specific needs. The full Class 5 feature set combined with its VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) capabilities provide us unmatched flexibility within a platform that can economically grow as we grow. Tekelec's acquisition of Taqua was the clincher for us. Now, the highly reliable switching solution is backed by an established, publicly traded company, alleviating any concerns about long-term financial stability."

Vogt explained, "The 100th customer milestone is a significant achievement for all of us involved with the development, marketing, and sales of the iX7000. The iX7000 has established itself as a market leader in Class 5 packet switching in North America -- a significant accomplishment given the highly competitive nature of the market. We are excited to be part of Tekelec and are confident that the integration will enable even stronger growth domestically as well as afford us the opportunity to accelerate international product development and marketing to meet customers' needs globally. Tekelec's acquisition of Taqua complements its next-generation switching portfolio, which supports Class 4, Class 5, wireless, and wireline technologies and applications."

About iX7000

The iX7000 is based on a "switch-on-a-card" design; each interface card, or circuit pack, performs all functions required of a Class 5 switch. Each card provides dedicated resources for call processing, service logic, switch fabric, media processing, and signaling. By eliminating common equipment, the iX7000 greatly improves service margins and gives service providers pinpoint control over network costs. Providers can deploy a fully functional system with a single card and add expansion cards as needed. They may configure the iX7000 with POTS, DS1/E1, DS3/E3, and Internet protocol interface cards.

About Tekelec

Tekelec is a leading developer of telecommunications signaling and switching solutions, packet-telephony infrastructure, network monitoring technology, and value-added applications. Tekelec's innovative solutions are widely deployed in traditional and next-generation wireline and wireless networks and contact centers worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located in Calabasas, Calif., with research and development facilities and sales offices throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.tekelec.com.

The Tekelec logo, EAGLE, G-Flex, G-Port, and IP(7) are registered trademarks of Tekelec. iX7000, Sentinel, TekServer, and TekWare are trademarks of Tekelec. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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