Ascend Communications Earns Top Honors in the Ninth Annual Modern Materials Handling Productivity Achievement Awards.

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 1998--Ascend Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASND), a leader in wide area networking (WAN) and Intelligent Networking (IN) solutions for providers and users of the next-generation public network, today announced that its Alameda, Calif. manufacturing facility has received Modern Materials Handling's Ninth Annual Productivity Achievement award.

Ascend will be honored this evening at an awards ceremony sponsored by the magazine.

The award, given in the manufacturing category, was based on five criteria: internal and external customer service, the ability to respond quickly to changing market conditions, the flexibility to alter operations in response to unplanned events, the ability to deliver the right product to the right place at the right time, and finally, clearly demonstrating the ability to improve overall operations.

Ascend's Alameda facility manufactures the award-winning MAX and MAXTNT WAN Access Switches. The operations consist of two U-shaped conveyor lines that lead works-in-process (WIP) to multiple workstations. Additionally, manufacturing workers direct pallet loads of WIP from station to station by positioning a reflective sliding square over the workstation number to which it is to be delivered, helping to maximize Ascend's ability to simultaneously pace production and meet specific customer requirements. On an average day, the conveyor lines see a combined total of 600 Access Switches.

"It is a great honor to be recognized by Modern Material Handling," said Jim Hindmarch, senior vice president of operations at Ascend. "In using a two conveyor line system, we're able to easily accommodate peak periods without harming our manufacturing efficiencies. We will continue to service our customers not only according to their individual needs, but in such a way that they consistently receive products on time and with high quality."

About Ascend Communications

Ascend Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASND) develops, manufactures, sells and services wide area networking solutions for telecommunications carriers, It the Ascend Web site at www.ascend.com, or send e-mail to [e-mail]. For Investor Relations, please call our communications hotline at 800-648-3059 or 760-704-4423 (outside the U.S. & Canada). Additional investor information can also be accessed on our Web site at: http://www.ascend.com/662.html. Ascend is headquartered at One Ascend Plaza, 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, Calif. 94502; phone is 800/ASCEND4 and fax is 510-814-2300.

The foregoing statements may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from these expectations as a result of factors including, but not limited to, the Company's success in developing, introducing or shipping new products, competition, the mix of distribution channels employed, the Company's dependence on single or limited source suppliers for certain components used in its products, risks inherent in international sales, seasonality and general economic conditions. These and other factors are discussed in Ascend's 10-K, 10-Q and other filings made periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.