News Release

Carrier Access and BroadSoft Address UNE-P Migration for Competitive Carriers

Cost-effective VoIP conversion showcased at BroadSoft Conference

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, BROADSOFT CONNECTIONS CONFERENCE - October 11, 2004 - Carrier Access Corporation (NASDAQ: CACS) and BroadSoft®, a leading provider of network communications platforms, today unveiled a cost-effective, facilities-based VoIP network solution to address the competitive carriers’ migration issue from UNE-P to UNE-L.  This solution combines mature technology, such as media gateways and DSLAMs, with the latest VoIP applications platform, all deployed in the central office (CO) to greatly reduce the cost and complexity of facilities-based services.

Due to the US Federal Court of Appeals’ reversal of UNE-P (Unbundled Network Element-Platform) rules that had permitted competitive carriers to lease network elements from RBOCs, competitive carriers are now required to establish their own voice and transport infrastructure. To help facilitate this migration, Carrier Access and BroadSoft are demonstrating the significant capital and operational efficiencies of their joint UNE-P to UNE-L (Unbundled Network Element-Loop) migration strategy this week at the BroadSoft Connections Conference being held in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“The Carrier Access/BroadSoft solution is unique because it is based on mature technology that carriers have extensive expertise with, such as media gateways and DSLAMs,” said Michael Tessler, president and CEO at BroadSoft.  “BroadSoft brings to the table the most deployed and scalable network communications platform for the latest in VoIP hosted applications.  Together this solution mitigates a number of barriers, like ‘truck rolls’ and last mile quality of service issues, which in turn provides a reliable migration path to UNE-L profitable voice and data services.”

Carrier Access’ interoperability partnership with BroadSoft enables the Adit® 600 Multi-service Delivery Terminal with the Customer Media Gateway (CMG-02) to communicate with BroadSoft’s BroadWorks® network communications platform to demonstrate a high-density CO deployment of voice line services.  Carrier Access’ Adit 600 CMG-02 converts voice lines to IP using compact, CO-grade technology. This can dramatically reduce the equipment and collocation costs for competitive carriers who need to establish cost-effective facilities and deliver advanced services as an alternative to UNE-P resale.  The Adit 600 CMG-02 will deliver VoIP from the CO and gateway VoIP with call control from the BroadWorks platform to deliver up to 80 voice line services in just two rack units of space.

The NEBS Level III-certified Adit 600 platform offers a highly cost-effective solution for migrating from TDM to IP service delivery while preserving existing investments in equipment. The addition of the CMG-02 enables the introduction of IP services and doubles the voice line capacity of access infrastructure, enabling service providers to rollout additional revenue-generating voice lines without compromising quality or service availability. 

BroadSoft’s BroadWorksprovides a comprehensive range of applications including hosted PBX, IP Centrex, residential broadband voice, and the latest in collaborative conferencing fully integrated into a single network communications platform. More than 80 service providers worldwide have selected the BroadWorks platform, including BellSouth, Covad, MCI, PCCW, SingTel and Telstra, with more than 600,000 licenses shipped.

“This network scenario is a proven architecture that allows carriers to achieve significant cost savings,” said Roger Koenig, president, CEO and chairman, Carrier Access. “We have engineered the Adit 600 CMG-02 to deliver a five-nines availability solution to address the UNE-P migration issue. Competitive carriers can quickly establish their own network elements, turn on and rollout the conversion of phone lines to VoIP immediately.”

About Carrier Access Corporation
Carrier Access (NASDAQ: CACS) provides consolidated access technology designed to streamline the communication network operations of service providers, enterprises and government agencies.  Carrier Access products enable customers to consolidate and upgrade access capacity, and implement converged IP services while lowering costs and accelerating service revenue. Carrier Access’ technologies help our customers do more with less. For more information, visit www.carrieraccess.com.

About BroadSoft
BroadSoft is the leading supplier of network communications platforms to service providers and channels in the enterprise and residential markets. BroadSoft's flagship product, BroadWorks, provides a comprehensive range of applications including Hosted PBX, IP Centrex, residential broadband voice and collaborative conferencing, fully integrated into a single platform. The company has the largest customer base in its space worldwide, including BellSouth, Covad, MCI, PCCW, SingTel, and Telstra. BroadSoft is located near Washington, DC, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and maintains a research and development facility in Montreal, Canada. Additional information can be found at http://www.broadsoft.com.

BroadSoft and BroadWorks are registered trademarks of BroadSoft, Inc. All other names are trademarks of their respective companies.

Forward-Looking Statement Caution
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the " safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including changing customer requirements, changing product requirements, business users and service provider future sales, projected savings on capital expenditures, disruptive pricing and operational savings achieved through deployment of the Adit 600 CMG-02. For a discussion of additional factors that may cause results to differ, see Carrier Access' SEC filings. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Carrier Access disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.