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Leading Next-Gen Carrier to Deploy Sonus’ Packet Telephony Solutions to Boost Scalability, Enable New Services 

WESTFORD, Mass., September 18, 2000 – Sonus Networks (Nasdaq: SONS), a leading provider of voice infrastructure solutions for the new public network, and PointOne Telecommunications today announced that PointOne has chosen Sonus’ award-winning Packet Telephony Suite to build out the carrier’s VoIP network. PointOne will use the Sonus solutions to enhance the scalability of their IP-based voice infrastructure, drive additional minutes through their network and deliver a host of enhanced voice services. The contract is valued at approximately $50 million.

“To build a world class company you need world class partners,” said PointOne CTO, Mike Holloway. “Sonus represents a new level of leadership in network infrastructure products. We are confident Sonus will assist us greatly in our mission to grow PointOne.”

PointOne has developed a managed bandwidth, national IP/ATM backbone network with local points-of-presence (POPs) in 90 U.S. markets. PointOne will augment its current network infrastructure by deploying Sonus’ complete Packet Telephony suite, including the GSX9000 Open Services Switch, the PSX6000 SoftSwitch and SGX2000 SS7 Signaling Gateway, throughout its entire network footprint. With the Sonus equipment, PointOne will dramatically increase the capacity of its network, allowing the service provider to accommodate the rapidly growing traffic requirements of its existing carrier customers and also to attract new customers.

“As one of the first providers to develop a carrier-grade VoIP network, PointOne is considered one of the market’s early adopters,” said Hassan Ahmed, Sonus’ president and CEO. “They’ve already seen tremendous success in their business as a result of their IP-based voice infrastructure, and we look forward to working closely with PointOne in expanding their network to allow them to fully realize the benefits of packet telephony.” 

In addition to greatly increasing the capacity of their network, PointOne will leverage the Sonus systems to offer a range of traditional and enhanced voice and data services to its users. Currently, PointOne offers a domestic and international termination service with high-speed, point-to-point bandwidth for high-volume wholesale telecommunication providers carrying voice traffic over the PointOne data backbone. Through the Sonus infrastructure, PointOne plans to develop a suite of enhanced IP telephony and data services to target the enterprise market. 

PointOne has begun deploying the Sonus Packet Telephony suite in its network and plans to rapidly roll out the Sonus equipment in all 90 of its U.S. markets.

About PointOne Telecommunications, Inc.

PointOne is a next-generation communications carrier that provides converged services over its nationwide network. PointOne currently has network connections to 90 U.S. cities. PointOne effectively offers service to over 75% of the phone lines in the United States.

Founded in 1998, PointOne is deploying the nation’s first carrier-grade, packet-based network designed from the ground up to provide converged services. PointOne’s network comprises a national ATM backbone and local market points of presence throughout the United States and in select international cities. Combining managed bandwidth with Internet Protocol technologies, PointOne is providing toll-grade VoIP and next-generation voice and data services to carrier customers at a substantially lower cost than traditional circuit-switched carriers.

For more information about PointOne Telecommunications, please visit the PointOne web site at http://www.pointone.com. PointOne is located at 6801 North Capital of Texas Hwy., Bldg. 2, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78731 and can be reached by calling (877) 4-POINT-1.

About Sonus Networks

Sonus Networks, Inc. is a leading provider of voice infrastructure products for the new public network. Sonus’ solutions enable service providers to deploy an integrated network capable of carrying both voice and data traffic, and to deliver a range of innovative, new services. The Sonus Open Services Architecture (OSA) and award-winning Packet Telephony suite cut the time-to-market for competitive new service products, allowing carriers and third-party developers to expand marketshare and build important new revenue streams. Its highly scalable products fully interoperate with and extend the life and utility of today’s public network. Sonus embodies in its management and staff decades of experience in developing carrier-class voice, data and multimedia solutions for implementation in the world’s largest networks. Sonus, founded in 1997, is headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts. Additional information on Sonus is available at http://www.sonusnet.com.

This release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of Sonus that involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to Sonus’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000, filed with the SEC, which identifies important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These risk factors include, among others, the Company’s ability to grow its customer base, dependence on new product offerings, market acceptance of our products, rapid technological and market change and manufacturing and sourcing risks.

GSX9000, PSX6000, SGX2000 and Open Services Architecture are trademarks of Sonus Networks. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.