MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- (Marketwire) -- 01/30/13 -- Transition Networks Inc., the fiber access technology expert, a wholly owned subsidiary of Communications Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: JCS), today announced that it is in the first round of Carrier Ethernet vendors to receive the MEF CE 2.0 certification on its S3280 intelligent Ethernet demarcation device.

As Transition's foundational product in the company's portfolio of service provider products, the S3280 was developed to assure compliance with the new CE 2.0 services, simplifying the ability for service providers to deploy new services for Business Ethernet, Cloud Service Delivery, Wholesale Ethernet, and Mobile Backhaul Applications. CE 2.0 compliance testing and certification for the S3280 consisted of numerous test cases performed by Iometrix, the official MEF certification test lab. The MEF Carrier Ethernet Certification Program is designed to ensure that global equipment and services comply with MEF standards and pave the way for interoperability.

"CE 2.0 is a highly challenging and significant accreditation to achieve. The CE 2.0 test plan sets a new standard for Carrier Ethernet services, which involves hundreds of exacting test cases. MEF CE 2.0 Certification creates an important standard of deployment for the marketplace. Over 155 companies are now certified for CE 1.0 and the adoption signs for 2.0 are exciting," said Bob Mandeville, President and Founder of Iometrix. "The demand for certified products and services is a driving force, and we expect a significant increase in service provider members from emerging economies in 2013. The strong demand for CE 2.0 capability is illustrated by the first 20 CE 2.0 certified vendors in San Diego today."

MEF CE 2.0 Framework:
The new CE 2.0 extends the original purpose of Carrier Ethernet with vital added features, including multiple classes of service, greater manageability and easier interconnect for eight standard service types, enabling new levels of efficiency for mobile backhaul, making it easier for a large number of access providers to join the Carrier Ethernet community and establish Carrier Ethernet as a business class cloud service carrier.

"Transition Networks continues to develop leading edge products for service providers that enable them to streamline Ethernet services for business and mobile backhaul applications within a highly reliable environment," said Kevin Faulds, Director of Product Management at Transition Networks. "Transition Networks is honored to be among the first vendors to achieve the CE 2.0 certification, further showing our commitment to Carrier Ethernet and leading industry organizations like the MEF."

This latest certification is further evidence of Transition Networks' dedication to providing products that help service providers simplify their network, while adding the most advanced features, to enable additional revenue capabilities and service offerings. The S3280 family of Carrier Ethernet NIDs and access switches share the same software platform that has been certified under CE 2.0 and built to meet the demands of greater reliability, increased performance and ease of management in an intuitive easy to use interface. Adding Transition Networks' certified CE 2.0 S3280 product coupled with our Converge™ Element Management system will significantly reduce the total cost of network ownership, reducing service provisioning time, accelerating the time to revenue, and increasing service returns.

"The achievement of the CE 2.0 equipment vendors is a testament to their commitment to outstanding delivery to the Carrier market. MEF CE 2.0 standards will enable carriers to choose equipment vendors with greater speed, clarity and certainty," said Ihab Tarazi Chairman of the Board, MEF, Vice President of Global Planning and Technology Verizon.

MEF CE 2.0 Information:
For more information on Transition Networks CE 2.0 certified products please contact Transition Networks at (800) 526-926, +1 (952) 941-7600 or www.transition.com for the latest information.

About The MEF:
The MEF is a global industry alliance comprising more than 200 organizations including telecommunications service providers, cable MSOs, network equipment/software manufacturers, semiconductors vendors and testing organizations. The MEF's mission is to accelerate the worldwide adoption of Carrier-class Ethernet networks and services. The MEF develops Carrier Ethernet technical specifications and implementation agreements to promote interoperability and deployment of Carrier Ethernet worldwide.
*For more information about the Forum, including a complete listing of all current MEF members, please visit the MEF web site at http://www.MetroEthernetForum.org/

About Transition Networks Inc.
Transition Networks has achieved international recognition as a major manufacturer of high quality access and backhaul equipment for data communications and telecommunications applications. Transition Networks has been a long-time active member of the MEF and a proponent for the proliferation of Ethernet technology in Carrier access networks. Transition Networks has previously achieved Carrier Ethernet Generation 1.0 certification (MEF 9, 14, and 21), and the S3280 and S3280-TST are now CE 2.0 certified. Based in Minneapolis, Transition Networks distributes hardware-based connectivity solutions exclusively through a network of resellers in 50 countries, including Ingram Micro and Tech Data. Transition Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Communications Systems, Inc., a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: JCS).

Statements regarding the Company's anticipated performance in 2013 are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: competitive products and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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