OPNET Announces Plan to Expand Optical Network Design Capabilities With Comsof Joint Venture
OPNET Intends to Deliver Expanded Portfolio of Software for Optical Network Design with Injection of Comsof Intellectual PropertyBETHESDA, MD and BELGIUM - March 19, 2001 -- OPNET Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPNT), the leading provider of intelligent network management software, and Comsof, a Belgium-based software company with world-class expertise in optical network design, today announced plans to create a joint venture focused on delivering best-in-class software for optical network design and planning.
Today's announcement brings together two leaders in their respective fields, with highly complementary skills. OPNET is a public company with an established track record that dates back to its founding in 1986. Today OPNET supports and markets its intelligent network management software to a global customer base comprised of the top service providers and optical equipment manufacturers including AT&T, France Telecom, NTT, Cisco, ilotron, Lucent, NEC, Nortel Networks, Tellium, and Terawave. Sales of the OPNET Netbiz platform and OPNET Modeler product are growing rapidly within the optical networking industry. OPNET's core competencies are networking and software development.
Comsof was founded in 1998 and is a profitable company that sells software and expert consulting services to the major service providers and manufacturers of optical networking equipment. Comsof has its roots in the prestigious Laboratory for Information Technology at University of Gent, where most of its staff either teaches or received their educations. Collectively, members of Comsof have authored more than 86 publications related to optical networking. Comsof's core competencies are in advanced mathematics and algorithms for designing optical networks.
OPNET and Comsof signed a letter of intent to form the relationship on Mar 16, 2001. The letter of intent is non-binding and remains subject to negotiation of definitive documentation. The joint venture, based in Belgium, will include investments from both Comsof and OPNET, and will own exclusive rights to key Comsof intellectual property, including the new WDMNetDesign software. The result is expected be new and enhanced products that benefit from the combined assets of the two parent organizations.
OPNET Chairman and CEO Marc Cohen stated, "We are pleased to be joined by Comsof in addressing the needs of the optical networking community. We will expand and provide significant new value to both companies' customer bases. In addition, the joint venture will further expand OPNET's presence in Europe."
Comsof Founder Dr. Paul Lagasse added,
"OPNET's best-in-class software and distribution channels present
an ideal vehicle for delivering Comsof's advanced intellectual property
and expertise in optical network design to a worldwide audience.
I feel good about both the technical and business approach we are
taking with OPNET."
About OPNET Technologies, Inc.
Founded in 1986, OPNET Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of intelligent network management software. The OPNET product suite combines predictive modeling and a comprehensive understanding of networking technologies to enable its customers to more effectively design and deploy networks, provision services, diagnose network and application performance problems, and predict the impact of proposed network modifications. For more information about OPNET and its products, visit www.opnet.com.
About Comsof
Located in Belgium, one of the network nerve centres of Europe, Comsof is a leading provider of easy-to-use network design, planning and evaluation tools for telecom network suppliers and operators. The company's core strengths include WDM transport networks, metropolitan networks and access network design. Given the organization's in-depth technical experience with transport and access networks, Comsof is also active in consultancy for network design and management. Comsof is targeting present and future telecom network suppliers and operators and its activities are focused on software aspects related to communication networks, including development of network design tools for transport (WDM/ SDH/ ATM/ IP) and access networks.
Safe Harbour Statement The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding OPNET Technologies Inc.'s expectations, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based upon information available to OPNET Technologies, Inc. as of the date hereof; OPNET Technologies, Inc. assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, see the Company's reports filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, including its 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2000.
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Note to editors: The word OPNET is spelled with all upper-case letters.
OPNET Media Contact:
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OPNET Technologies, Inc.
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