SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 14, 1999 - Leading broadband service provider, SoftNet Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SOFN), today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, ISP Channel, is the first high speed Internet access company to commercially deploy Cisco System, Inc.'s Cisco Subscriber Registration Center (CSRC) in a production network.
Launched in conjunction with ISP Channel's new Tiered Service Model, CSRC is currently available through ISP Channel in Cedar Communications of Arlington, Washington and Satellite Cable Services of Brookings, South Dakota. In addition, ISP Channel also announced its recent certification as a Cisco Powered Network Program member.
"CSRC provides an automated end-to-end solution that allows service providers to scale their services, while letting customers quickly and easily activate and maintain their accounts through a self-managed Web site," said Paul Bosco, vice president and general manager of Cisco's Cable and Wireless Products and Solutions Group. "ISP Channel understands the need for these services, and Cisco is excited to support their continued growth and high customer satisfaction rate."
Jonathan Marx, ISP Channel's senior vice president of customer sales and service said, "ISP Channel is the perfect forum to implement Cisco's CSRC solution because it delivers standards-based, directory-enabled solutions for provisioning DOCSIS equipment and enables user-friendly self-subscription, service selection and account management. As a Cisco Powered Network Program member, ISP Channel is excited to have helped introduce this new technology. We think it will help to further distinguish ISP Channel within the marketplace as a technology leader and will allow us to more rapidly and cost-effectively launch new products and services."
Cisco Subscriber Registration Center is a tightly integrated, end-to-end subscriber self-provisioning solution for DOCSIS (Data-over-Cable Service Interface Specification) based cable modems and set-top boxes. By enabling cable operators to efficiently configure and manage DOCSIS devices, CSRC ultimately will facilitate the market for retail modems through customer self-registration and service activation.
In addition to announcing its CSRC deployment, ISP Channel launched its new Tiered Service Model with these same two partnering cable affiliates in Arlington, Washington and Brookings, South Dakota on December 1, 1999. ISP Channel plans to offer its Tiered Service in the majority of its markets in the future, as well as to new partnering affiliates. The Tiered Service Model consists of three packages each with varying downstream/upstream speeds, all of which are many times faster than standard dial-up Internet access. ISP Channel's Tiered Service Model was developed to provide increased customer choice in service selection, while maintaining the delivery of consistent service across its customer base, and include the following packages:
| ISP Channel Package | Down/Up Speeds |
| Standard Service | 500k/100k |
| Premium Service | 1.0M/200k |
| Premium Plus Service | 1.5M/300k |
ISP Channel's participation in the Cisco Powered Network program demonstrates its ability to provide industry-leading technology solutions and services that are based predominantly on Cisco solutions. A benefit of the program for ISP Channel is their participation in joint marketing, technology sharing and selling activities with Cisco. ISP Channel, along with Cisco, is helping to create state-of-the-art communications infrastructure that supports high-value integrated communications services.
About SoftNet Systems, Inc. and ISP Channel, Inc.
SoftNet Systems, Inc. is a leading high speed broadband services provider.
SoftNet's ISP Channel service to its domestic cable partners include cable head-end equipment and integration, Internet backbone connectivity, and technical support and customer care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Complementing ISP Channel's high speed Internet service, is its ISP Channel Neighborhood, a series of local user-friendly community e-commerce, information and entertainment portals built around local retailers and community organizations in service areas of each participating cable affiliate. Through its Intellicom subsidiary, based in Livermore, California, the company markets a two-way satellite-based VSAT high speed commercial Internet link to ISPs, cable operators, multiple dwelling units, and universities.
SoftNet Systems, Inc. is headquartered in San Francisco, California. For further information please visit www.softnet.com, or call 415-365-2500.
