Avici Introduces RAPID Technology for the Real-Time IP Network.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ITU TELECOM WORLD 2003

GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 2003

Offers Buyback Program for "Best Effort" Equipment

Avici Systems, Inc., (NASDAQ: AVCI) today announced IPriori(TM) 6.0 software with its new RAPID(TM) (Reliable Alternate Paths for Internet Destinations) technology, for Avici's family of carrier routers. Avici's RAPID uses advanced software and routing algorithms to dramatically improve the recovery speed or "convergence time" resulting from a network disruption.

The need to improve convergence times is paramount as IP networks shift from carrying "best effort" data traffic to delivering Real- Time applications such as voice, video, business applications, and interactive gaming. Traditional routers can take tens of seconds to recover and route traffic around network disruptions, during which time data and service connections are lost. By deploying Avici's RAPID, carriers can realize a 10X improvement in convergence times, enabling them to achieve a new level of network reliability and stability. This network performance improvement positions carriers to capture high margin premium IP services and demanding Real-Time applications. RAPID can also contribute to reducing operational costs by minimizing service disruptions and the associated customer service and maintenance activities.

"Carriers recognize that the key to improved profitability is capturing growing high-margin real-time IP service revenues," said Joe McGarvey, Sr. Analyst Current Analysis. "To succeed, carriers need to move beyond best effort reliability and stability issues of their existing IP networks. Avici's RAPID technology continues to build on Avici's high reliability IP network evolution."

In connection with the introduction of RAPID, Avici is announcing an incentive program to assist carriers migrating from current best- effort routers to a Real-Time IP Network. To help carriers make this transition, Avici will offer a trade-in allowance for legacy core routing equipment as a credit towards the purchase of an Avici TSR, SSR, or QSR router. "Best-effort routing is no longer acceptable for consumers and businesses who are demanding reliable IP and premium Real-Time services with stringent SLAs" said Steve Kaufman, president and CEO of Avici Systems. "Avici's RAPID is a critical component for carriers who want to capture the high growth Real-Time services market and migrate legacy networks onto a common IP backbone."

Avici's routers are purpose-built for the stresses and demands of carrier core routing. Avici's TSR(R), SSR(TM) and QSR(TM) routers, are built using a highly distributed architecture for optimal performance, stability and scalability. In addition to RAPID, Avici routers also deliver carrier-proven reliability features such as Composite Links(TM) for link aggregation and cost-effective local protection, and NSR(TM) Non Stop Routing for full control plane protection and hitless software upgrades.

About Avici Systems

Avici Systems Inc., headquartered in North Billerica, Mass., is a leading provider of purpose-built carrier-class routing solutions for the Internet. Avici's family of routers is designed to meet carrier requirements for the highest scalability, reliability and network availability, while lowering the total cost of building and operating their networks. The company's routing systems provide new IP solutions to some of the world's leading service providers. For more information, please visit us at www.avici.com.

Avici, TSR, SSR, QSR, IPriori, NSR, Composite Links and RAPID are trademarks of Avici Systems Inc.

This release contains information about Avici's future expectations, plans, and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. When used in this press release, the word "will", "expected" and other similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market acceptance of Avici products, services and enhancements, customer purchasing patterns and commitments, development of the market place, product development and enhancement, intensity of competition of other vendors, technological changes and other risks set forth in Avici's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.