Emerson Communications Conference Highlights Challenges, Solutions to Broadband Deployment

DALLAS, Texas [April 23, 2008] – Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR) and the global leader in enabling Business-Critical ContinuityTM, today launched the Emerson Communications Conference, bringing telecommunications industry leaders together to discuss the issues surrounding broadband deployment and some of the technologies and solutions available to providers.

The 48th annual conference, themed “Bringing Broadband to Life,” is a two-day event offering participants a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet and share ideas with some of the worlds leading telecom experts while learning about the latest innovations in communications network infrastructure solutions and services for DC power, alternative energy sources, outside plant products, and fiber and copper connectivity solutions.

“In just the past year, North American fiber-to-the-home connections have nearly doubled to the point that almost three million homes are connected via end-to-end fiber,” said Manish Bhandari, vice president, global sales and marketing, Emerson Network Power's Energy Systems business, during todays conference-opening remarks. “That growth, and the equally rapid growth of other fiber architectures, is stretching our existing telecommunications infrastructure to its limit and creating an urgent need for technologies to support this demand. The conference will examine those new technologies and solutions and others on the horizon.”

Ernie Carey, AT&T Southwests senior vice president of network services, will present a keynote address update on U-Verse, the ambitious AT&T initiative aimed at bringing triple-play services to millions of its customers. Tomorrow, Michael Bruce, senior advisor of finance at the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, will present a keynote address highlighting government programs aimed at accelerating the deployment of alternative energies.

Other highlights of the two-day conference include a full technical track dedicated to alternative energy sources like fuel cells and solar cells in telecom applications, and a session looking at the FCCs “24/8” mandate for backup power at telecom sites, and an Emerson Network Power presentation on strategies for reducing energy consumption and costs in telecom networks.

Conference attendees also have the opportunity to meet and interact with Emerson Network Power engineering and product development staff while getting a first-hand look at Emerson Network Powers NetSureTM 801 large DC power system, a preview of the NetSureTM 711 medium (24 or 48 volt) power system, a demo of the innovative NetXtendTM Fuel Cell Series integrated enclosure, and information on many other Emerson Network Power products.

For more information about the Emerson Communications Conference, visit www.emerson.com/communicationsconference.