February 15, 2009 - Starent Networks, Corp (Nasdaq: STAR), a leading provider of infrastructure solutions that enable mobile operators to deliver multimedia services, today announced it has completed 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE)/Evolved Packet Core (EPC) interoperability testing with the Multi-Vendor Radio Access Network (MVR) from Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. As a result of the successful interoperability, Samsung will be demonstrating a live LTE connection at Mobile World Congress, February 16 – 19, in Barcelona.

The LTE demonstration will utilize Samsung’s eNode-B system and Starent’s multimedia core solutions including Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (SGW) and Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW).

The interoperability testing and public demonstration showcases the two companies’ commitment to creating a solution that is standards compliant and can address mobile operator requirements for broadband connectivity along with network deployment flexibility. The demonstration further validates Samsung and Starent Networks’ leadership positions in delivering next generation mobile broadband and multimedia core networking solutions to an ever evolving market.

“Because Starent focuses on mobile broadband and the multimedia core network, they were the perfect choice to showcase the interoperability requirements of a multi-vendor LTE EPC solution,” said Woon Sub Kim, Executive Vice President of Samsung. “We believe this interoperability test is the first with the radio access from one company, Samsung, and the packet core from another, Starent. While other live network demonstrations have showcased end-to-end vendors demonstrating their radio and EPC, the completion of interoperability testing between Samsung and Starent validates the open standards compliance of both companies and demonstrates that we are ready and able to work with other companies’ solutions.”

“With the completion of interoperability testing with Samsung, Starent is poised to be first to market with a fully deployable evolved packet core network based on open standards,” said Ashraf Dahod, CEO of Starent Networks. “We are focused on the specific needs of the mobile operator multimedia core network and understand the unique dynamics of the network. As a result, we have developed our solutions to deliver superior performance in the existing 3G network, with easy and cost-effective evolution to 4G-LTE.”