Aleron Broadband Services, a PowerNet Global Subsidiary, Offers New, 'Industry-First', Service Level Agreements.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CINCINNATI, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2004

Carrier to provide guaranteed ATM-Grade SLAs for IP VPNs and Toll-Quality VoIP Services

PowerNet Global Communications (PNG), an emerging national wholesale and retail carrier, announced today the industry's first ATM-Grade SLAs for IP services. With its recent deployment of Axiowave Networks' XCR128(TM) service convergence router across the IP network of its wholly owned Aleron Broadband Services subsidiary, the carrier is delivering a range of services not previously available in the industry. New services include Toll-Quality VoIP, ATM-Grade IP-VPNs, and ATM-Grade transit.

With more than 500,000 subscribers and service in 49 states, PNG is a leading integrated communications provider that offers a host of services to both residential and business customers, including voice, internet access, transit, and other data services. Its Aleron Broadband Services subsidiary operates one of the industry's most advanced IP networks.

"PNG/Aleron is the first and only service provider to offer guaranteed ATM-Grade SLAs for IP-VPNs and Toll-Quality VoIP, which will enable customers to migrate from premium legacy services to IP with its associated benefits," said PowerNet Global President/CEO Bernie Stevens. "Our Toll-Quality VoIP service benefits not only our business customers, but also our wholesale customers who need to interconnect disparate VoIP islands and extend their reach on a global basis. At the same time, our ATM-Grade transit service lets customers replace their rigid, expensive leased-line circuits with a more flexible, usage-based IP service that offers performance equivalent to that of leased-line."

PNG customers can quickly expand their footprint with no investment in physical infrastructure, and the tiered ATM-Grade (or better) SLAs let them select a service that is appropriate to their specific applications. To further reduce their costs, customers can consolidate their transit services on a single access port into PNG/Aleron's IP infrastructure.

Additional benefits: Industry's Lowest Worst-Case Latency and Jitter 

PNG/Aleron is now guaranteeing worst-case latency and jitter levels for the industry's first ATM-Grade IP-VPNs (point-to-point worst-case latency under 65 ms and worst-case jitter under 0.5 ms). This is in sharp contrast to the current industry practice of offering "monthly averages across all city pairs". In addition, PNG/Aleron guarantees that point-to-point worst-case latency and jitter for VoIP SLAs will never exceed 65 ms and 0.5 ms, respectively. This new industry benchmark provides customers with Toll-Quality VoIP previously possible only across an ATM network--a significant leap forward for customers' IP service levels and profitability potential.

"The services we're now offering provide SLAs for IP that exceed those of ATM," said Aleron Broadband Services General Manager Christopher Bradish. "We've already seen significant interest from both new and existing customers. With this network upgrade, we'll also be positioned to bring several additional premium services to market in the coming months."

About PowerNet Global & Aleron Broadband Services

Founded in 1992, integrated communications provider PowerNet Global (www.powernetglobal.com) works with many of the country's top communications agents and affinity groups to offer a wide range of integrated voice, data, and Internet solutions nationwide to both residential and commercial customers. Leveraging its reputation in the industry, a nationwide MPLS network, and strong carrier partnerships, PowerNet Global offers tremendous opportunities for carriers, resellers, agents, and affinity groups. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati, and has offices in Jamestown, New York; Chantilly, Virginia; and Chicago. PowerNet Global has achieved consistent growth--throughout the telecom industry downturn--by developing and marketing an expanding array of competitive products, as well as through strategic acquisitions.