RBAK Redback Networks

Winners of the second annual Leading Lights Awards unveiled NEW YORK, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Light Reading (http://www.lightreading.com/) today announced the winners of its second annual Leading Lights Awards, recognizing leading companies and their executives for their outstanding achievements in the telecom industry. The winners of the Leading Lights Awards have survived three months of scrutiny and debate by a staff of more than 20 editors and analysts from Light Reading and its leading market-research division, Heavy Reading. Light Reading received more than 300 awards nominations. "From the numerous entries we received, it's obvious that fresh ideas are flourishing as the telecom market moves into innovative new services such as IPTV and VOIP," said Scott Raynovich, Editor in Chief of Light Reading. "This year's awards recognize the new leaders in a rapidly changing market." The winners are listed below by category: Industry Statesman (Public Company): This award went to the CEO or senior executive who has demonstrated the greatest qualities of leadership, technological vision, and financial acumen when guiding his/her public company. Winner: Patricia Russo, CEO, Lucent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:LU) Industry Statesman (Private Company): This award went to the CEO or senior executive who has demonstrated the greatest qualities of leadership, technological vision, and financial acumen when guiding his/her private company or startup. Winner: Selina Lo, President & CEO, Ruckus Wireless Inc. Best New Product (Public Company): This award went to the public company that has developed a market-leading product that, through engineering and technical excellence, best enables the deployment of profitable next-generation telecommunications services. Winner: Alcatel's (NYSE:ALA) 1850 Transport Service Switch Best New Product (Private Company): This award went to the private company or startup that has developed a market-leading product that, through engineering and technical excellence, best enables the deployment of profitable next-generation telecommunications services. Winner: Airgo Networks Inc.'s AGN300 802.11a/b/g Chipset Investment Potential (Public Company): This award went to the public company that represents the best long-term potential return on investment, by virtue of solid management, product development, and market growth potential. Winner: Redback Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:RBAK) Top IPO Candidate (Private Company): This award went to the private company or startup that most clearly has the management, products, and financial stability to launch a successful IPO on its own terms within the next 12 months. Winner: Force10 Networks Inc. M&A Strategy (Public Company): This award went to the public company that has consistently demonstrated good timing, judgment, and execution in high-profile acquisitions. Winner: Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) Best New Service (Public Company): This award went to the public service provider or carrier that has most successfully deployed a market-leading, revenue-generating service based on next-generation telecommunications technology. Winner: Verizon Communication Inc.'s (NYSE:VZ) FiOS TV Best New Service (Private Company): This award went to the private service provider or carrier that has most successfully deployed a market-leading, revenue-generating service based on next-generation telecommunications technology. Winner: InfiniRoute Networks Inc.'s VOIP Direct Marketing (Public Company): This award went to the public company that has best communicated a specific technology vision and/or business proposition to customers and investors, especially in cases where the company has defined and led the market. Winner: Lucent Technologies' IP Multimedia Subsystem portfolio Marketing (Private Company): This award went to the private company or startup that has best communicated a specific technology vision and/or business proposition to customers and investors, especially in cases where the company has defined and led the market. Winner: The Metro Ethernet Forum's Carrier Ethernet Certification Program Contact: Scott Raynovich Editor in Chief, Light Reading (212) 925-0020 x103 About Light Reading Light Reading Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMP Media, is a B-to-B network information provider. Light Reading publishes http://www.lightreading.com/, the leading global content site for the telecom industry; http://www.byteandswitch.com/, a storage networking site; and http://www.unstrung.com/, dedicated to wireless networking. Light Reading is also affiliated with http://www.heavyreading.com/, a market research site for quantitative analysis of telecom technology to carriers, service providers, and vendors. About CMP Media Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands in the technology, healthcare, and lifestyles industries, CMP Media has earned the confidence of more professionals and enthusiasts in these fields than any other media company. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access, insight, and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in each of these industries in ways that yield superior return on investment. DATASOURCE: Light Reading CONTACT: Scott Raynovich, Editor in Chief of Light Reading, +1-212-925-0020, ext. 103, Web site: http://www.lightreading.com/ http://www.byteandswitch.com/ http://www.unstrung.com/ http://www.heavyreading.com/

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