AGIS upgrades backbone with Ascend GRF 400 high performance IP switches.

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 1997--Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND) today announced that Apex Global Information Services, Inc. (AGIS) Dearborn, Mich., has begun deploying 16 Ascend GRF 400 high performance IP switches as part of a major upgrade of its network infrastructure. Initially, the systems are being installed in AGIS' major metropolitan area points of presence (POPs), which carry the heaviest traffic. AGIS, founded in 1994 and one of the original "big six" bandwidth providers, operates the fourth largest Internet backbone network in the United States.

AGIS selected the GRF 400 because its larger POPs were unable to handle the increasing volume of traffic on its existing routers. The GRF 400 not only solves the immediate capacity problem, but also offers the scalability needed to provide AGIS a growth path from a DS3 (45 Mbps) backbone to an OC-3 (155 Mbps) backbone.

Phil Lawlor, president of AGIS, said, "The GRF 400 will help us protect the investment we have made in our infrastructure. Because the GRF is modular and scalable, we will be able to add capacity as we need it without a forklift upgrade to a completely new platform."

"We're pleased to see AGIS, a leading Internet solutions backbone provider, using the GRF in such a demanding environment," said Mark Garver, vice president and general manager of Ascend's High Performance Networking Division. "The high-load, fast growth and stressful environment seen in networks such as AGIS' requires a product that operates with the greatest performance and reliability. The GRF was designed exactly for this type of complex network."

The GRF 400 is part of Ascend's family of IP switches that combine switching, route management, and high-speed distributed IP forwarding to achieve unprecedented performance. The GRF is designed to dedicate 1Gbps switch bandwidth to each IP forwarding media card, and offers a choice of up to four high-speed media cards including ATM and SONET.

About AGIS

AGIS (www.agis.net), founded in 1994, provides Internet access to millions of users via its extensive customer base of Regional Bell Operating Companies, content providers, large corporations, and Internet service providers. A technology leader and innovator, AGIS is the first Internet access provider to deploy ATM technology to operate a national backbone network, the first to offer commercial 155 Mbps connections to the Net, the first to reduce points of failure in a network by using switching technologies, the first to design a wholesale business model (so as not to compete with customers by selling retail access), and the first to provide multiple distribution centers for content replication (CooLocation). AGIS has over 200 Points of Presence, and offers Internet connections from 56 Kbps to 155 Kbps.

AGIS is headquartered at 3601 Pelham Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48124; Phone: 800/380-AGIS; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail] .

About Ascend Communications

Ascend Communications, Inc., is a leading worldwide provider of remote networking solutions for corporate central sites, Internet Service Providers' points of presence, remote offices, mobile workers and telecommuters. Ascend develops, manufactures, markets, sells and supports products that utilize bandwidth on demand to extend existing corporate networks for applications such as remote LAN access, Internet access, telecommuting, SOHO connectivity and videoconferencing/multimedia access. Detailed information on Ascend products, news announcements, seminars, service and support is available on Ascend's home page at the World Wide Web site http://www.ascend.com .

Ascend is headquartered at 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, California 94502. Phone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail] . -0-

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George Kelly, 313/730-1130

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Shannon Malliet, 510/747-2254

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