Ascend Global Integration Services Unveils Global Strategy and Service Delivery Capabilities.

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1998--

Global Integration Services Elevates Support and

Services on Global Scale; Focus On Time-to-Market

Solutions and Network Lifecycle Support

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 a new strategy for its Global Integration Services (GIS) business unit that is focused on delivering "Time to Market" solutions through the delivery of a full range of network lifecycle support services. These integrated, flexible services are available on a global basis and support the full range of network lifecycle needs and allow Ascend customers to gain greater performance and value from their networks, while achieving the competitive advantage of being first to market with new voice and data services.

According to Scott Thompson, executive vice president of Global Integration Services, the GIS strategy is the result of extensive research into the needs, wants and expectations of the Ascend customer base, many of whom are carriers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs), enterprise and other network service providers. "For these customers, the network is the business and the ability to bring new voice and data services to market is vitally important," Thompson said. "By focusing GIS on time to market solutions, Ascend has positioned itself as a business partner, providing both the advanced technology and the technical expertise to implement it quickly and manage it effectively. It's all about better bottom line results for our customers."

The GIS goal of providing Time-to-Market solutions is based on a strategy of developing services that support the lifecycle of a network. "Networks don't have a traditional product lifecycle," said John Pohl, senior director of marketing of Global Integration Services. "Networks go through a continual evolutionary process that is driven by the need for new capacity and capabilities created by technological advancements. Supporting the entire evolutionary process helps us ensure that our clients deliver the right services to the right markets at the right time with sufficient capacity to satisfy future demands."

The four evolutionary phases are Planning, Design, Implementation, and Management and GIS has been organized into business units that focus on the unique challenges of each phase:

--   Professional and Technical Services, headed by Mark Quinlivan,
     vice president, is focused on providing business consulting and
     developing and delivering services for network design,
     performance audits, and network deployment. This business unit
     also provides project management as well as custom software
     development services.

--   The Advantage Services unit is focused on customer support
     programs including Ascend Online Services, an interactive support
     Web site (for more information see news release -- "Ascend Online
     Services Heralds the Future of Innovative Service Delivery").
     This group provides expert on-line, on-site and phone support,
     from seven Technical Assistance Centers strategically located
     around the world. On-site service is available in more than 40
     countries and can be delivered in as little as two hours.
     Telephone support can be provided around the clock in 140
     languages.

--   Global Education, under the leadership of Dixie Smetana, director
     of Education and Certification, delivers programs on a variety of
     technology topics at ten training centers in the Americas,
     Europe, Asia, and Australia. The business unit also manages the
     Ascend Certified Technical Expert (ACTE) program.

"The Ascend GIS strategy is logical, well thought out, and important to its customers," said Glenn Gabriel Ben-Yosef, president of Clear Thinking Research in Boston, Massachusetts. "Ascend GIS is a leading vendor support organization that recognizes the value of intellectual capital in network services. By focusing on time to market solutions, GIS is saying they understand the critical needs of their customers."

Availability

Ascend's Global Integration Services are available immediately, worldwide. Additional information on these services is available on the Ascend Web site at http://www.ascend.com.

About Ascend Communications

Ascend Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASND) develops, manufactures, sells and services wide area networking solutions for telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and corporate customers worldwide.

For more information about Ascend and its products, please visit 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 US & 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.