Broadwing Takes Bandwidth Revolution To New Heights; Innovative Wavelength Services Package Provides Customers High Capacity Capabilities With Maximum Cost Flexibility.

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NetWorld Interop 2000

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2000

Networld+Interop Booth 2304, North Hall

Broadwing Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Broadwing Inc. (NYSE:BRW), today announced the availability of point-to-point and layered Wavelength services between multiple cities over its national fiber network.

Targeted at emerging ISPs, ASPs and other Internet-centric companies, Broadwing's Wavelength services solution is the industry's first optical virtual private network. For the first time, customers have the ability to control the escalating cost of communications services as they rush to meet the tremendous bandwidth demands of the Internet driven "new economy." Broadwing's layered offering is also unique because Broadwing is delivering 2.5-gigabit-per-second wavelengths across its entire network and between multiple cities. This is ideal for jumpstarting an emerging network provider. Other alternative options currently on the market are simple point-to-point arrangements.

As part of its Advanced Services Platform, Broadwing will use leading-edge optical transmission network equipment from Corvis. By combining Broadwing's industry leading, coast-to-coast, 16,888 mile fiber optic network with Corvis' optical switching and transmission technologies, Broadwing will be able to more rapidly and efficiently add capacity for its customers on demand -- where and when they need it. As a result, these customers will be able to take advantage of new productivity-enhancing applications and services even more quickly than previously imagined.

"Customers are asking us to provide greater amounts of bandwidth in diverse regions, and we've responded with the industry's first optical virtual private network that enables them to create high-speed national networks in hours rather than months," said Shirish Lal, president of Broadband Services at Broadwing Communications. "By incorporating technology from Corvis into this solution, fewer steps will be required to customize the service at dramatically lower prices."

The announcement makes Broadwing the first in the industry to provide nationwide wavelength layers at 2.5-gigabit-per-second wavelengths to carriers and Internet Service Providers. The company will sell the wavelengths in groups of four across its nationwide OC-192 fiber network, enabling each customer to connect between any 58 cities.

Broadwing's Wavelength services offering, designed for large customers with national network requirements, was developed in response to the growth of customer demand for high-speed bandwidth.

About Broadwing

Broadwing Communications is a wholly owned subsidiary of Broadwing Inc. Broadwing Inc. (NYSE:BRW) is an integrated communications powerhouse delivering voice, data and Internet solutions to a variety of customers nationwide. Broadwing combines unparalleled customer service with a premier next-generation fiber network and award-winning IP backbone, to create data and Internet solutions that are innovative, reliable, and provide businesses a competitive advantage. Broadwing sets the standard for customer accountability with its first-in-the-industry Installation Guarantee. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio with 6,000 employees in 38 cities, Broadwing can be found on the Web at broadwing.com.