Carrier-Grade Element Management System Helps Simplify the Operation of Packet Voice Networks 

WESTFORD, Mass., December 21, 2000 – Sonus Networks (Nasdaq: SONS), a leading provider of voice infrastructure solutions for the new public network, today announced that it has taken top honors in the new product awards sponsored by the editors of Communications Solutions and the engineers of TMC Labs. Sonus Insight™ was recognized as the best new element management solution for next-generation networks.   

"Sonus Networks is clearly an industry leader in developing innovative network solutions for the telecom industry," said TMC president and group publisher Rich Tehrani. "We selected their element management system as a Product of the Year winner because we feel it deserves the attention of forward-thinking organizations looking for best-of-breed solutions."

"We are grateful for the recognition given to Sonus Insight by Communications Solutions," said Stephen Collins, Sonus' vice president of marketing. "Our network management system was designed from the ground up to help carriers provision, monitor and control next-generation, converged networks. This honor underscores the importance of providing carriers the tools to manage large, complex networks, and we are proud to accept the award for our accomplishments."

Sonus Insight consolidates a wide range of management functions into a single system, simplifying the many labor-intensive processes involved in managing carrier equipment. The web-based system includes configuration management, performance management, accounting management, security management and fault management. Sonus Insight is highly scalable, supporting hundreds of switches and concurrent users. Additionally, through Sonus Insight, carriers can quickly build out their packet voice networks and bill for a range of traditional and enhanced voice services.

Sonus Insight manages all elements of Sonus' award-winning Packet Telephony suite, which comprises the GSX9000 Open Services Switch, the PSX6000 SoftSwitch and the SGX2000 SS7 Signaling Gateway. Additionally, Sonus Insight seamlessly integrates into carriers' existing operating support systems (OSS) via CORBA and SNMP interfaces.

About Sonus

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 September 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 its products, rapid technological and market change and manufacturing and sourcing risks.

Sonus Insight, 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. 

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