AboveNet Joins Sun to Enable Internet-Based Portals for Schools.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 22, 1999--

Initiative Brings World-Class Education Applications

and Content Within Reach of Thousands of K-12 Schools

AboveNet Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:ABOV), the architect of a global one-hop network that brings together high-bandwidth content sites, ISPs, and Application Service Providers in centralized co-location facilities, today announced a joint marketing agreement with Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SUNW) to be the connectivity and co-location provider for the SchoolTone Alliance Program.

The program, also announced today, leverages Sun's network computing solutions and the expertise of best-of-breed service providers (SPs) to create high-quality Internet-based portals for schools teaching children who are in kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12). To power the portals with a fast, reliable high bandwidth network, Sun asked AboveNet to join the SchoolTone Alliance Program.

AboveNet will host the servers of the SP's in the program, providing them with high performance Internet connectivity. In addition, AboveNet has developed a comprehensive academic SP Program for participants in this initiative, which will include co-marketing and other support services.

The rich and diverse range of educational content and applications is out of the financial reach of most K-12 Schools. The SchoolTone Alliance Program is designed to make such valuable resources, including academic classes, teaching aids, and administrative applications, more affordable by enabling K-12 schools to 'rent' rather than purchase, install and maintain them.

The program will make it possible for students, teachers, administrators and parents to access Web sites created by the SPs in the program, and from these portals use virtual desktop applications that have been customized for the school and personalized for the user.

"AboveNet is a strategic participant in the SchoolTone Alliance Program. Its infrastructure services could potentially save schools millions of dollars by putting very valuable educational resources into their hands at more affordable prices," said Robert Iskander, vice president of Global Education and Research for Sun. "AboveNet's high performance network provides the scalable and reliable Internet connectivity that is essential in delivering interactive teaching applications, maps, satellite pictures, historical audio and video clips, and much more."

AboveNet offers it clients 10.5 Gbps of bandwidth of Internet connectivity. With this capacity, large content rich files and applications, including educational courses, can be delivered to users quickly and consistently to create an optimal online experience for teachers, students, parents and school administrators. In addition, AboveNet's highly redundant and secure network ensures that users will have immediate and reliable access to the education portals at any time.

"AboveNet and Sun bring together the essential components for delivering hosted applications over the Internet to schools -- making the Internet a true extension of the school," said Van Jepson, vice president of Marketing for AboveNet. "Our relationship with Sun meets a very tangible social need. In addition, AboveNet's SP Partner Program actively supports qualified application service providers targeting K-12 schools, and opens up new opportunities for them to grow their business models."

About AboveNet's Education Service Provider Program

AboveNet's Education Service Provider Program is tailored to lessen the costs of hosted applications and helps SPs execute their marketing programs quickly. The program consists of a variety of co-marketing activities designed to increase SP business, combined with business plan review. In addition, AboveNet is offering, for a limited time, three free months of co-location services to education SPs, which may be extended to six months if the SP joins AboveNet's Application Service Provider Partner Program.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer(TM)" has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of high quality hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide Intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $11 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.

About AboveNet Communications Inc.

AboveNet Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of Internet connectivity and co-location solutions for high bandwidth and business-critical applications. AboveNet, headquartered in San Jose, is the architect of the Internet Service Exchange (ISX) -- a world class network that provides co-location services and Internet connectivity for Content Providers, ISPs, and Application Service Providers (ASPs).

The AboveNet Global One-Hop Network is designed to deliver fast, scalable and reliable connections to the Internet and improves the Internet experience for all end-users. With its Tier 1 status and ISO 9002 certification, AboveNet is seeking to serve the global community of the Internet. For more information on AboveNet and its service offering call 800/475-2733 or visit the company's Web site at http://www.above.net.

The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical, such as statements relating to the emergence of a market for hosted applications and the potential benefits of hosted applications, are forward looking statements within the meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the company's expectations, beliefs, hopes, intention or strategies regarding the future. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks related to AboveNet's services, including network scalability and Internet connectivity, the ability to maintain and increase peering relationships, and intense competition, the ability of the providers of hosted application services to obtain and retain customers and satisfactory levels of service, and other factors and risks discussed in the company's registration statement on form S-1 initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 1999 and other reports filed from time to time with the Securities Exchange Commission.

Note to Editors: AboveNet, Internet Service Exchange, ISX and AboveNet Global One-Hop Network are trademarks of AboveNet Communications, Inc. All other company or brand names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.