Alcatel Space Selects GDC APEX for Brazil's Nationwide Satellite Network.

Business Editors

MIDDLEBURY, CT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 2000

General DataComm Industries, Inc. (NYSE: GDC) announced today that it will provide GDC APEX(R) ATM switches for newly created Brazilian carrier, Intelig Telecomunicacoes Limitada, which will create a nationwide telecommunications network over satellite to help deliver "universal service" throughout the 3.2 million square mile country.

Alcatel Space will deploy the satellite/ground station network for Intelig using GDC's multiservice platforms. GDC's technology was chosen based on successful testing of the satellite/ATM switch solution in Alcatel's research labs.

"We are extremely pleased to be working with Alcatel Space on this program and see this commitment as the beginning of a long-term relationship between our companies," said Anton Kaeslin, GDC vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The network will give Intelig the ability to offer voice and IP services over ATM satellite links to 39 Brazilian cities. Intelig expects to expand the services throughout Brazil, South America's largest and most heavily populated nation.

As part of Brazil's privatization program, operating licenses were awarded to competitive mirror telecom companies to foster competition in the data communications marketplace. Intelig, formerly Bonari, was created to provide telecom customers with an alternative long-distance service provider to Embratel, the existing long-distance carrier.

Intelig plans to provide Brazil with innovative international telecommunications solutions, products and services based on leading technologies and first-class customer service, thereby establishing a new standard in the Brazilian telecommunications market.

Intelig will be working toward fulfilling the universal service commitment as set forth by the Communications Ministry to help ensure that all citizens have access to basic telephone service.

"Because of the geography and the nature of the existing infrastructure in Brazil, telephony via ATM satellite links will bring service to remote rural areas throughout the country not previously served by telephony or data communication connections," said Keith Mumford, GDC vice president and general manager, Broadband Division.

GDC will supply its APEX-NPX and -IMX switches to enable customers to connect directly to Intelig's network. This will increase the delivery of real-time voice and IP services allowing Intelig to deliver high-speed Internet access to an ever-increasing number of subscribers. GDC APEX(R) switches, with the award winning AAL2-based voice service module, were designed to cost-effectively migrate long-distance voice to ATM networks.

GDC APEX-NPX and -IMX multiservice switches are part of the GDC APEX family of leading platforms delivering ATM service in some of the world's most advanced and demanding networks. Key features of the GDC APEX family include:

-Concurrent support for multiple services including voice,

data and video;

-Cost-effective, leading edge AAL2 Voice over ATM;

-Integral multimedia interfaces including MPEG-2

video capabilities;

-Frame Relay switching and HDLC/SDLC

transport over ATM;

-Circuit emulation to protect existing

investment; and

-Native LAN interconnection and

concentration.

ProSphere(R), a standards-compliant, open-architecture network management system, manages the GDC network. ProSphere consists of a series of element and network-level tools, which allow for topology and fault management, service provisioning and route table management.

About Intelig

Intelig Telecomunicacoes Limitada -- Intelig [formerly Bonari] is a newly created long-distance Brazilian carrier established by National Grid Group PLC (50%), France Telecom SA (25%) and Sprint Corporation (25%). The company has an aggressive plan to expand its services to other areas of the country during the year.

About Alcatel Space

Alcatel Space (www.alcatel.com), Europe's leading satellite exporter, ranks among the world's leading space systems industries. With expertise in civil and military applications, Alcatel Space develops innovative satellite technology for telecommunications, navigation, optical and radar observation, meteorology and science. With partners around the world, 8 subsidiaries throughout Europe, and a strong commitment to Research & Development, Alcatel Space plays an important role -- as prime contractor, operator, investor, or service provider -- in a majority of ongoing space programs. An affiliate of Alcatel (51%) and Thomson-CSF (49%), Alcatel Space generated a 1998 turnover of 10.4 billion francs (1.6 billion Euros). The Company employs 5,565 people.

About General DataComm

GDC (www.gdc.com) is a leader in the design, development and manufacture of multiservice communications systems for service providers, private networks and enterprise businesses. GDC APEX(R) ATM broadband, multiservice packet voice and data products are used extensively within the world's largest, public next generation networks. A broad range of advanced network access products provide DSL/Universal Access System solutions; frame relay probes, integrated analog, DDS, wideband and broadband network access products; all managed under a distributed, open SNMP network management framework. GDC is headquartered in Middlebury, CT, USA, and has an extensive network of subsidiaries and partners located throughout North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim.

All GDC products mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of General DataComm, Inc., a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of General DataComm Industries, Inc.