British Telecom Selects Excel Switching, Compaq AlphaServers and Technology Control Services to Meet Enhanced Service Platform Needs.

HYANNIS, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 1999--

TCS's Universal Services Manager and Excel Switching's EXS Platform

Enabled British Telecom To Deploy Enhanced Services Globally

Excel Switching Corporation (Nasdaq:XLSW), a leading provider of open switching platforms for telecommunications networks worldwide, announced today that British Telecom (BT) and its Alliance Partners have chosen to deploy an enhanced services solution developed by Technology Control Services (TCS) Inc. which consists of Compaq Computer Corp.'s (NYSE:CPQ) custom configured 64-bit AlphaServer systems and is based on Excel's ONE Architecture(tm) Expandable Switching System (EXS).

The combination of Excel Switching, TCS and Compaq's technology creates a carrier-grade solution for pre-and post-paid cards, unified messaging and personal numbering services that allows BT to offer competitive enhanced services to its global partners. The product, TCS's Universal Services Manager, is a flexible system that incorporates Compaq's 64-bit AlphaServers, Excel's EXS, Oracle's (NASDAQ:ORCL) relational database technologies and TCS's unique global roaming technology to enable the management and customization of enhanced services.

"BT's choice of an enhanced service solution based on Excel's EXS platform, TCS's enhanced service application and Compaq AlphaServers underscores the importance of programmable switching to the global telecommunications industry," said Robert Madonna, president and CEO of Excel. "This truly open, programmable and flexible solution will allow BT and its Alliance Partners to quickly and cost effectively accommodate the needs of each of its global markets. The end result is that BT will be able to provide enhanced services at a competitive cost while reducing time to market for its partners."

The EXS programmable switching platform provides a cost effective and robust carrier-grade solution. It allows application developers the flexibility to customize their applications to suit customer needs, which is especially important to the global marketplace, and its scalability enables carriers to start small and grow as their subscriber base increases, providing a cost-effective solution.

"By teaming with Excel, TCS and Compaq, we're now able to rapidly and cost-effectively implement enhanced services for our joint venture partners on a global scale," said Dan Cattigan, head of global products and services development of BT. "We were impressed by the solution's flexibility and scalability and the range of services it provided. We are proud to offer this cutting edge technology to our partners and customers worldwide."

The flexibility of the EXS solution is accomplished using Excel's patented Programmable Protocol Language (PPL). PPL is a graphical programming language that allows developers to quickly and cost effectively customize the switch software, including both network signaling protocols and switch-resident call control software. With network signaling PPL, developers can offer their products on a wide variety of networks by modifying protocols to adapt to local signaling requirements, such as SS7 signaling variants. PPL call control allows developers to customize the call model in order to differentiate their applications, enabling them to offer unique, competitive services to the carrier community.

"This deal with BT validates the openness and flexibility of the TCS approach and establishes us as an industry leader in the drive for carriers to get to market with new services faster and more cost-effectively," said TCS CEO Ben Holzemer. "To have been selected by BT from a competitive field of enhanced services companies clearly indicated that the TCS approach delivers a viable solution to telecom providers."

"We're pleased that BT has chosen to take advantage of 64-bit AlphaServer technology to meet its enterprise computing needs," said Gene Nelson, vice president, CustomSystems, Compaq Computer Corporation. "Configured to customer specifications, this technology enables BT to process massive amounts of data at record speeds from across its enterprise, enhancing network services to its worldwide customer base."

About ONE Architecture

ONE Architecture defines Excel's strategic technology framework for its state-of-the-art Expandable Switching System (EXS). It enables carriers and developers to integrate network routing, enhanced services and media support on a single, highly-scalable switching platform. With its product and services, Excel provides a scalable network solution regardless of legacy signaling protocols, switching capacity, or billing and subscriber services offered from the PSTN (Public Switch Telephone Network) switch.

About BT

BT is one of the largest and most successful telecommunications companies in the world, capitalized at around (pound)52 billion. A public listed company, in the last financial year (1997-98) BT's turnover was (pound)15,640 million, with a pre-tax profit of (pound)3,219 million.

BT's principal activity in the fully competitive UK market is the supply of local, long distance and international telecommunications services, serving more than 27 million residential and business exchange lines through a fully modernized and largely digital network. It offers a full range of Internet and on-line services to business and residential customers.

The company has operations in more than 30 countries and employs about 124,700 people world-wide. Last year it spent (pound)307 million on research and development. BT has joint ventures in the Republic of Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan, India, Korea and Malaysia.

On July 26, 1998, BT announced the formation of a $10 billion global venture with AT&T to serve the communications needs of individuals and businesses around the world. Addressing a $55 billion market opportunity, the venture will offer customers the widest range of seamless advanced global products and services to meet their end-to-end communications needs. The joint venture, which will include Concert, is expected to be completed by fall 1999.

About Technology Control Services, Inc.

TCS (www.techcontrol.com) deploys and manages a global network employing its innovative software technologies to provide calling card and enhanced service solutions to the global carrier marketplace through a unique blend of service bureau and managed service options. TCS works in partnership with the world's leading telecommunications companies to build, operate and manage enhanced service offerings that help them grow and compete globally.

TCS's advanced Universal Services Manager platform supports a full range of enhanced services including pre-and post-paid calling cards, unified messaging (voice, fax, e-mail), personal numbering service / one number service and virtual international toll free services. TCS currently manages a global intelligent network of USM platforms on three continents with continued expansion planned into Europe and Asia. Founded in 1994, TCS has offices in Fort Lauderdale, London, Paris and Hong Kong.

About Excel Switching Corporation

Excel Switching Corporation is a leading provider of open switching platforms for telecommunications networks worldwide. Excel develops, manufactures, markets and supports a family of open, programmable, carrier-class switches that address the complex enhanced services and wireless and wireline infrastructure needs of network providers. Excel's products are currently deployed in telecommunications networks in approximately 60 countries throughout the world. Visit Excel's website at http://www.xl.com.

This release may contain statements which are "forward looking," and is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ significantly from expectations. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those relating to Excel's dependence on and concentration of relationships with application developers, original equipment manufacturers and systems integrators; possible delayed or lengthy sales cycles; risks associated with new product introductions; Excel's dependence on its proprietary rights; and other risks identified in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings including those risks identified in the section entitled "Risk Factors" of the Company's Annual Report for the year ended December 27, 1997 on Form 10-K, as amended. Product and service names used within are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of their respective owners.