ADVISORY/ONI Systems' Chief Technology Officer Rohit Sharma to Keynote `Optics Night'.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ADVISORY... for Tuesday (April 24)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Sharma to Discuss New Developments in "Metropolitan Optical Networks"

at Santa Clara Chapter IEEE-LEOS Lecture Series

Rohit Sharma, Ph.D., chief technology officer for ONI Systems Corp. (Nasdaq:ONIS), a leading provider of all-optical telecommunications equipment for metro and regional networks, will be the keynote speaker at the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Lasers and Electro-Optics Society (SCV IEEE-LEOS) 2001 Lecture Series. Sharma will discuss present and future developments in "Metropolitan Optical Networks." The lecture will take place Tuesday, April 24, 2001 at 8:00 p.m. PT at National Semiconductor in Santa Clara and is open to the public.

In his address, Sharma will highlight the latest developments in optics including new applications and advances brought about by the explosion in optical technologies. Nationally recognized as an informed and provocative speaker, Sharma most recently spoke at OFC 2001, one of the industry's most renowned conferences, on the lessons learned in optical networking. Sharma, founder and CTO of ONI Systems, is responsible for overseeing technology development and providing strategic guidance on new opportunities for the company. Prior to founding ONI, he was with Telecom Research Labs. Sharma holds Ph.D. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Alberta, Canada, and a B.Sc. degree in electronics and communications from R.E.C. Kurukshetra, India.

WHAT:   IEEE-LEOS 2001 "Optics Night" Lecture Series
        "Metropolitan Optical Networks"
        Keynote: Rohit Sharma, chief technology officer at ONI Systems

WHEN:   Tuesday, April 24, 2001 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. PT

WHERE:  National Semiconductor (Santa Clara) Credit Union Auditorium
        955 Kifer Road
        Sunnyvale, CA 95052
        Kifer Road between Lawrence Expressway and Wolfe Road.
        Park in the rear of the building.
        Phone: [phone]

For more information about ONI Systems, please visit www.oni.com.