Aurora Networks Press Release - Aurora Networks Raises $10 Million in Series A Funding

Press Releases

For Immediate Release - Santa Clara, California, June 5, 2000

Optical Networking Company Aurora Networks Raises $10 Million in Series A Funding to Increase Two-way Bandwidth for Broadband Networks

Santa Clara, CA. — Aurora Networks, a developer of next-generation optical transport systems for broadband networks, today announced it has raised $10 million in Series A funding from Battery Ventures.

This funding will enable Aurora to develop optical transport systems for Multiple System Operators (MSOs) as they continue to deliver more bandwidth to their customers. Today's converging technologies are driving the development of increased two-way bandwidth for broadband networks.

''Today's converging technologies - telephony, Internet and video - create opportunities for MSOs to continually offer enhanced services and the bandwidth required for these services,'' said Guy Sucharczuk, President, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Aurora Networks. ''With more people online, more often, using more complex applications than ever before, you'll be seeing a greater demand for bandwidth. And that's what we're addressing.''

The need for increased two-way broadband bandwidth is fueling the growth of the network construction market, including new builds, rebuilds and upgrades, which in 2000 is at least an $8.5 billion market, according to Leslie Ellis, senior technology analyst at Paul Kagan Associates, Inc., a leading industry research firm.

Aurora will use the Series A funding from Battery Ventures to fund the completion of product development, as well as to expand its engineering, sales and marketing teams. Battery has a 16-year history of helping guide the emergence of many of the world's most successful information technology companies.

''The Aurora team is focused on enhancing two-way broadband applications,'' said Ken Lawler, General Partner of Battery Ventures. ''As a company with a seasoned management team, systems and technology expertise, and deep industry relationships, Aurora is well positioned in one of broadband's hottest sectors.''

Proven Management Team
The Aurora management team is comprised of proven executives who have developed some of the most advanced optical networking systems currently in the market. The founders bring together advanced systems expertise, extensive experience in fiber optics and laser technologies, and a deep understanding of customer needs.

Guy Sucharczuk, President and CEO Sucharczuk founded Aurora Networks following his tenure at Harmonic, Inc. and Silicon Valley Communications, Inc. (acquired by C-COR.net). At SVCI, Sucharczuk was vice president of research and development, product marketing, and operations.

Krzysztof Pradzynski, M.Sc.E.E., Vice President, Research and Development Pradzynski founded Aurora after holding key positions at Rogers Communications, Inc., Harmonic, Inc., and Silicon Valley Communications, Inc. (acquired by C-COR.net). At Harmonic, he was instrumental in developing the first scaleable node in the cable television industry. While at SVCI, Pradzynski was one of the key developers of AT&T's LightWire(tm).

Charles Barker, Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Scientist Also a founder, Barker comes to Aurora from Silicon Valley Communications, Inc. (acquired by C-COR.net), where he served as director of product marketing. Prior to joining SVCI, Barker was a member of the technical staff at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he led development efforts in large-aperture harmonic generators and studies of other nonlinear optical phenomena in laser-fusion drivers. Barker's graduate research at Stanford University involved the use of nonlinear optical spectroscopy for the study of ultrafast processes in condensed matter.

About Battery Ventures
Founded in 1983, Battery Ventures is one of the leading venture capital firms in the information technology industry. Known for its successful investments in over 125 portfolio companies including Allegiance Telecom (ALGX), Akamai Technologies (AKAM), HNC Software (HNCS), Infoseek (SEEK), FORE Systems and Qtera, Battery Ventures has an established reputation for identifying companies with significant potential and shaping strategies to grow them into market leaders. The Partnership manages six individual funds with $1.8 billion of committed capital.

For more information or to submit a business plan, visit www.battery.com.

About Aurora Networks
Aurora designs, develops and markets next-generation optical transport systems for broadband networks. Aurora's products will accelerate and simplify the convergence of telephony, Internet and video applications. Founded in November 1999, Aurora Networks is privately held and headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

For additional information about Aurora Networks, call 408.562.1770.