Telco Systems' EdgeLink100 Jumps Into DS3 Mux Market Lead as 7,000th Unit Ships Driven by Broad Carrier Market Demand

Norwood, Mass. (PROTEXT) - The Carrier Class TIRKS Ready,EdgeLink100 is the Only M13 Multiplexer To Support Both TL1 andSNMP Management. Telco Systems, a leader in edge of the network accesssolutions and a division of World Access, Inc. (Nasdaq: WAXS),announced today that rising demand for its industry leading DS3multiplexer, EdgeLink100, from a broad cross section of thenation's leading service providers -- AT&T, Sprint Corporation,Ameritech, Bell Atlantic Mobile, BellSouth, MCI WorldCom, ALLTEL,WinStar Communications, and McLeodUSA -- has pushed the totalnumber of units shipped to 7,000, with shipments for the lastquarter increasing 150 percent over the previous quarter.EdgeLink100 was first released in Spring 1998. "Acceptance of the EdgeLink100 by existing and emergingservice providers including ISPs, continues to rise impressivelysince we first launched it last year. Beating the industry growthrate, we saw EdgeLink100 shipments in the first two quarters ofthis year grow 150 percent," said Dave LeBeau, president of theTelco Systems Transport and Access Division. "Key to its successis the functionality we've continued to add to extend itsmanagement capability," he added. In addition to supporting bothTL1 and SNMP management, the EdgeLink100 is now Trunk InventoryRecord Keeping System (TIRKS) ready. This signals its inclusionin one of Telcordia's (formerly Bellcore) Office System Supportsystems which are used by RBOCs (Regional Bell OperatingCompanies) and CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers). The EdgeLink100 gives service providers a competitive solutionfor maximizing bandwidth while optimizing space and cost. Itsmore common applications include: a cost effective solution forT1 access off SONET rings; an efficient and compact solution forbundling T1 traffic from cell sites, or for a quick equipmentpayback for ISPs leasing DS3s providing high- speed Web accessfor customers. "We're very pleased, however not surprised, with the depth ofcarrier interest in the EdgeLink100 as we've designed itspecifically to meet their standards and needs," said ClintClements, Vice President of Global Sales for the Transport andAccess Division. "Having the EdgeLink100 TIRKS ready enables anyRBOC or CLEC to download software for use in their networks andremotely perform flow through DS1 provisioning. This makes theEdgeLink100 even more attractive from a network managementperspective," he said. Clements noted that the EdgeLink100 is theonly single rack unit M13 multiplexer in its class to fullysupport both TL1 and SNMP management which gives serviceproviders unprecedented flexibility for managing large voice anddata networks. EdgeLink100 Telco Systems' EdgeLink100 is a fully redundant, broadband DS3multiplexer designed for applications where bandwidth demand ishigh, but budget and real estate is limited. The EdgeLink100exemplifies a new generation of DS3 multiplexers that areextremely compact, quick and easy to install, provision andmaintain. Only one rack unit high (1.75"), it occupies less thanone- third the space compared to traditional multiplexers withsimilar functionality and costs less than all others in itsclass. The EdgeLink100 delivers outstanding performance (up to afull 28 protected DS1s or industry standard DS3) in a compact andcost-effective NEBS certified box. The simple interfaces anduser-friendly, menu-driven provisioning screens make theEdgeLink100 the first "plug-and-play" DS3 multiplexer in theindustry. About Telco Systems The Telco Systems Transport & Access Division is a leader ininnovative access solutions for public and private wireline andwireless networks. At the division's core are Telco Systems'network edge access solutions, including the EdgeLink family ofmultiplexers and integrated access for circuit-switched andpacket-based networks, and digital microwave transport solutions,including the WavePLEX family, for short and long-haul wirelessnetworks. With combined expertise in voice, data and videoapplications, the division offers service providers and privatecorporate networks cost- effective, flexible network solutionsthat enable them to compete more effectively in the marketplace. World Access designs a broad range of wireline and wirelesstelecommunications products and provides wholesale internationallong distance services for service providers worldwide. The WorldAccess Equipment Group develops and markets a suite of solutionsranging from single products to comprehensive network solutionsincluding intelligent multiplexers, digital microwave radiosystems, digital switches, billing and network telemanagementsystems, cellular base stations, fixed wireless local loopsystems and engineering services. Through its facilities basednetwork and various termination and resale relationships, TheWorld Access Telecommunications Group provides international longdistance to more than 200 countries. For more information,please visit the World Access web site at www.waxs.com and TelcoSystems' web site at www.telco.com . Note: The term EdgeLink is a trademark (TM) of Telco Systems.ots Original Text Service: World Access, Inc. Internet:http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Dianne Duffin of TelcoSystems A Division of World Access, Inc. (USA) 781-255-5239, ordduffin@telco.com Web site: http://www.waxs.com Web site:http://www.telco.com

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