February 4, 1999

Internet Global Services And Ascend Communications Create National VoIP Network

Ascend Communications, Inc., a leader in wide area networking (WAN) and Intelligent Networking (IN) solutions for providers and users of the next-generation public network, announced a multi-million dollar contract with Internet Global Services, Inc. (iGlobal), a Texas-based provider of networking services, for the Ascend MultiVoice for the MAX platform for its Voice over IP (VoIP) service introduction.

iGlobal also signed a multi-year contract with Ascend's Global Integration Services (GIS) Division to provide lifecycle network services, which involves network planning, design, implementation and management.

Ascend and iGlobal are deploying the MultiVoice for the MAX platform in 50 cities and expect completion of this first phase in April 1999. Trial VoIP services are underway in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, Texas; and Denver. iGlobal plans to expand its VoIP services into Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific in the second half of this year.

This initial implementation of iGlobal's MultiVoice VoIP network involves 50 MAX 6000s and 8 BSTD-X 8210s for a Frame Relay and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) backbone. iGlobal will manage and provision its Telares VoIP services using the Ascend NavisCoreand Navis Access network management products.

Ascend and iGlobal have also agreed to collaborate on another VoIP project named the Virtual Second Line (V2L). This software-enabled service will permit an online customer to fully utilize the capabilities of a single telephone line to perform multiple telecommunications functions.

iGlobal's VoIP service introduction is marketed under the Telares brand. Telares is a revenue-sharing telecommunications service marketed to independent Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Internet e-commerce Web sites.

The program enables Telares network members to market services and share revenues. Current Telares network services include long distance, localized search capabilities, microwave audio, video and pay-per-view (PPV) services, and off-site data storage. This summer, iGlobal plans to offer one month of free domestic long distance service to Telares customers.

"With the Ascend MultiVoice for the MAX platform, iGlobal is in a perfect position to offer innovative VoIP services today, along with IN-based services in the very near future," said Roger Boyce, vice president and general manager, Enterprise Network Division, Ascend Communications.

"Telares network services will offer toll quality VoIP services because the network is built upon the Ascend MultiVoice strategy, which enables Quality of Service over IP, Frame Relay and ATM, as well transparent integration with the existing PSTN."

The Ascend MultiVoice for the MAX VoIP platform is being deployed and evaluated by a number of service providers worldwide. On the heels of iGlobal and a few other successful deployments in 1998, Ascend is planning to announce a number of new network deployments in 1999. In addition, the third phase of the Ascend MultiVoice strategy calls for the transparent integration of a MultiVoice VoIP network with existing carrier-based public switched telephone (PSTN) signaling networks via an SS7 gateway. Ascend and a number of its customers are planning to implement these capabilities in 1999.

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