BrightLink Networks Appoints Vice President of Sales; VP of Sales, Director of Corporate Communications Round Out Executive Team.

Business/High-Tech Editors

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2000

BrightLink Networks, Inc. a start-up venture providing optical switching systems for the long haul carrier market today announced that Steve Schlumberger, a 30-year telecom industry veteran, has joined the company as vice president of sales. Schlumberger will be responsible for developing and managing BrightLink's sales force and will report directly to Harry Quackenboss, chairman and chief executive officer of BrightLink Networks.

"BrightLink is just as focused on building a company as well as a product. By putting together an experienced management team, BrightLink has committed to long-term service of carriers," said Scott Clavenna, President of PointEast Research. The overall optical market reached $5.9 billion this year, according to Shin Umeda, research analyst at the Dell'Oro Group.

Prior to joining BrightLink Networks, Schlumberger served as vice president of sales at Ensemble Communications, a wireless communications company, where he was responsible for sales strategies and programs. Before joining Ensemble Communications, Schlumberger held strategic executive positions at numerous pre-IPO ventures such as Virata, Sync Research Inc., Network Equipment Technologies Inc., and at Ungermann-Bass.

"Steve is exactly what we were looking for in this critical role," said Quackenboss. "His experience selling in billion dollar markets and developing key customer relationships makes him a strong addition to our team."

BrightLink also hired David Ujita, formerly vice president of corporate marketing for Oak Technology, Inc., as director of corporate communications.

"Optical switching is an emerging and high-growth market, and David has the experience we need to communicate the benefits BrightLink can offer carriers," said Gary Law, vice president of marketing at BrightLink Networks.

Ujita served as director of marketing for Halo Data Devices, Inc., a private computer hardware company, before going to Oak Technology. Prior to Halo, he gained experience in networking at Xircom, Inc. as director of worldwide product marketing and communications. David also spent nearly 10 years at Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. as director of marketing communications, and he was marketing communications manager at Hitachi America, Ltd. for five years.

About BrightLink Networks Inc.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., BrightLink is a pioneer in providing optical switching technology to the Interexchange Carrier market. The company began operation in 1998 and has more than 165 employees with offices in California and Richardson, Texas. The company is privately funded and has secured more than $78 million in three rounds of funding including investment from Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Goldman Sachs, Menlo Ventures and the Sprout Group. For more information visit the BrightLink Web site, www.brightlink.com.