Alcatel Joins Ascend Communications To Provide Carrier-Class Internet Multimedia Solutions; Solutions Integrate Alcatel Technologies With Ascend Internet Access And Remote Networking Products.

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 1996--Alcatel and Ascend Communications announced today a partnership whereby Alcatel will integrate Ascend's full line of Internet access and remote networking products into Alcatel products and services.

With this agreement, the two companies will provide telecommunications carriers worldwide with solutions for enhanced remote access to the Internet and corporate LANs, and offer highly scalable, high-bandwidth support for sophisticated Internet-based applications integrating voice, data and video traffic.

The Ascend products include the Pipeline family of remote access routers and bridges, the MAX family of WAN access switches, and the GRF family of high performance IP switches.

Alcatel will offer these products as part of a total telecom solution including powerful network and service management tools. Alcatel will also integrate Ascend products and technologies into its asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) access product families.

Alcatel is entering into such partnerships to expand its portfolio of access products included in its full services network product family. In this respect and pursuant to Ascend's products goals, the companies will work together to develop enhanced services and product features.

"This agreement enables Alcatel and Ascend to offer customers an integrated delivery system with fewer networks elements, which means faster service provisioning and easier network management," said Krish Prabhu, president of Alcatel's Broadband Product Group. "With Ascend's carrier-class products and expertise in this area of networking, we can expand greatly our Internet-based multimedia service offerings."

"The growing popularity of the Internet and the increased use of multimedia on the World Wide Web poses significant performance and management challenges to carrier networks, and this relationship with Alcatel will help us to address those needs," said Mory Ejabat, president and CEO of Ascend Communications. "The combination of Alcatel's unmatched ADSL and ATM backbone network capability, and their powerful management systems, provide the perfect complement to Ascend's expertise in remote networking and IP switching. Together, Ascend and Alcatel will provide carriers worldwide with a powerful solution for high-performance integrated networks."

Alcatel, part of Alcatel Alsthom, is a worldwide company, currently working with partners in over 125 countries on projects which span the full spectrum of communications systems. With about 87,000 employees, in the telecommunications sector, Alcatel is a system integrator in the telecommunications field. It manufactures advanced digital switches, transmission systems, broadband products, access products, radio mobile communications systems, business systems, systems and products for space and defense, and components. In 1995, these activities registered total sales of FF 66.9 billion.

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 which 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.

CONTACT: Ascend Communications Inc.

Kevin Gallagher, 510/743-7830 (U.S.)

Alan Bates [phone] (Europe)

or

Alcatel Technologies

Nicolas Brun, 33 (0)1 40 58 55 63 (Paris)

Karen Degroote, [phone] (Belgium)