@Link Networks Names Two Division Presidents; New additions to @Link Executive Team Will Lead Regional Growth and Expansion of @Link Business-Class Services.

Business Editors, High-Tech & Telecommunications Writers

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2000

Integrated communications provider @Link Networks, Inc. today announced the addition of two new members to its executive leadership team. Jeff Marlow has been named Western division president, and Paul Osland has been selected as Midwest division president.

"These are two strategically significant additions to our team that complement the quality of leadership and commitment to customer service that we are building at every level of our organization," said Alex Good, @Link chairman and CEO. "The telecommunications industry track record that these individuals bring to @Link is exemplary - these hires create considerable strategic momentum as we move forward in our aggressive growth plan."

Jeff Marlow brings more than 20 years of telecommunications experience to his new post as president of @Link's Western division. Marlow will be responsible for all company operations across @Link's Western sales territory, which includes Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa.

Most recently, Marlow served as central division president for ATG, a start-up integrated communications provider. Previously, Marlow spent seven years at ICG as Western regional president, during which he oversaw a staff of more than 700 people and managed an annualized revenue base of $200 million. Prior to that, Marlow was vice president of sales and marketing for MidAmerican Communications. He also gained management and sales experience at Allnet, MultiLink and MCI. Marlow earned a bachelor of arts degree from Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, and a master of arts degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

As president of @Link's Midwest region, Paul Osland will be responsible for all company operations across @Link's Midwest sales territory, which includes Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Texas.

Osland has an outstanding track record of more than 20 years of strategy and development experience involving telecommunications projects, including long distance, regulatory issues, rural exchanges, competitive local exchanges, wireless initiatives, and Internet offerings. Prior to joining @Link, Osland spent more than 15 years at Ameritech, most recently serving as vice president of corporate strategy and development. In this position, he succeeded in overseeing the $3.3 billion sale of Ameritech's cellular properties in Illinois and Missouri to GTE and directing the development of Ameritech's high-speed transport strategy. While at Ameritech, Osland also held the positions of vice president of marketing, vice president of strategic marketing and general manager of billing services. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in economics from Depauw University.

"With the management team we now have in place, @Link is in a position now more than ever to be the most aggressive and customer-focused integrated communications provider in our target markets," said Good.

@Link is currently actively engaged in one of the industry's most aggressive and ambitious network deployments. @Link's deployment plan includes servicing 30 markets in 14 states by the end of 2000, outfitting more than 1,000 telephone central offices with next-generation hardware and software.

About @Link Networks

@Link Networks, formerly Dakota Services, was founded in 1998 and specializes in broadband data and communications solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses. @Link is a leading provider of secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions and other high-speed data and communications services including video and, soon, voice, via access technologies such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). @Link is building a next-generation packet-switched network utilizing an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) backbone and advanced switching capabilities that enables the company to offer its business customers extensive Quality of Service and Class of Service capabilities, including highly customized broadband solutions and iron-clad service level agreements and performance guarantees. @Link serves customers in Illinois and Wisconsin and will serve markets in 14 more states by the end of 2000.