Cincinnati Bell Selects Westell VersaLink 7501 for Fioptics(SM) Service

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Westell's Field-Proven Wireless Gateway Provides Reliable, High-Performance Home Networking to Cincinnati Bell Subscribers

AURORA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL), a leading provider of broadband products, outside plant telecommunications equipment, and conferencing services, today announced that Cincinnati Bell Inc. (NYSE: CBB) has selected Westell's VersaLink 7501 Wi-Fi Gateway to provide in-home routing and home networking services to customers of its Fioptic(SM) service. Fioptic customers are served by Cincinnati Bell's fiber network, which enables the delivery of rich personalized media experiences. Fioptic supports multiple high-speed broadband service tiers and advanced video services, including the highest quality high-definition television (HDTV), video-on-demand (VOD) and standard definition television programming available to consumers today.

The Westell VersaLink 7501 Wi-Fi Gateway is designed to address the increased broadband networking demands of today's high-performance Internet services. The gateway connects via Ethernet to Cincinnati Bell's fiber optic service and then reliably distributes Internet connectivity throughout the customer's premises via its integrated Wi-Fi access point. In addition to broadband access, the VersaLink 7501 also provides advanced Voice-over-Wireless features that support the seamless delivery of voice services using UMA (Universal Mobile Access) and "dual-mode" mobile handsets that include Wi-Fi.

"Westell has been a Cincinnati Bell partner for many years and has extensive experience in fiber optic service deployments," said Darrick Zucco, Vice President & General Manager, Wireline Services at Cincinnati Bell. "We are pleased with the high level of reliability and performance provided by the VersaLink 7501, as well as its ease of use. These characteristics were important to us in choosing this product, as they reinforce the overall benefits the Fioptic service offers to our subscribers."

"We are excited to continue our work with Cincinnati Bell to provide the best possible experience to their customers. Cincinnati Bell's expanding use of fiber in its network is responding to consumer demand for more and more bandwidth, and we believe the VersaLink 7501 is the right choice to ensure this enhanced service capability is matched with an equally capable home gateway," said Chris Shaver, Vice President and General Manager, Customer Networking Solutions at Westell.

About Westell

Westell Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is a holding company for Westell, Inc. and Conference Plus, Inc. Westell, Inc. designs, distributes, markets and services a broad range of broadband customer-premises equipment, digital transmission, remote monitoring, power distribution and demarcation products used by telephone companies and other telecommunications service providers. Conference Plus, Inc. is a leading global provider of audio, web, video and IP conferencing services. Additional information can be obtained by visiting http://www.westell.com and http://www.conferenceplus.com.

About Cincinnati Bell Inc.

With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell (NYSE: CBB) provides integrated communications solutions-including local, long distance, data, Internet, wireless, home security, and entertainment services-that help keep residential and business customers in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton connected with each other and with the world.

In addition, businesses ranging in size from start-up companies to large enterprises turn to Cincinnati Bell for efficient, scalable office communications systems as well as complex information technology solutions including data center and managed services.

Cincinnati Bell conducts its operations through three business segments: Wireline, Wireless, and Technology Solutions. For more information, visit www.cincinnatibell.com.

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Certain statements contained herein that are not historical facts or that contain the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "may," "will," "should," or derivatives thereof and other words of similar meanings are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, product demand and market acceptance risks, need for financing, economic weakness in the United States ("U.S.") economy and telecommunications market, the impact of competitive products or technologies, competitive pricing pressures, product cost increases, new product development, excess and obsolete inventory, commercialization and technological delays or difficulties (including delays or difficulties in developing, producing, testing and selling new products and technologies), the effect of Westell's accounting policies, the need for additional capital, the effect of economic conditions and trade, legal, social and economic risks (such as import, licensing and trade restrictions), retention of key personnel and other risks more fully described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings, including the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 under the section entitled Risk Factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise. 


    Source: Westell Technologies, Inc.

Released February 1, 2010