Broadwing Wins Top Award for Most Innovative Backbone Service Provider; Inter@ctive Week, The Net Economy and Networld+Interop Select Broadwing for Interop Infrastructure Award.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2001

Broadwing Inc. (NYSE:BRW), an optical network communications leader, today announced it has received the prestigious Interop Infrastructure Award for Most Innovative Backbone Service Provider. The awards are sponsored by Inter@ctive Week, The Net Economy and Networld+Interop.

"The Innovation Awards are in their fourth year and are intended to reward service providers who dare to be different in meeting customer needs," said Carol Wilson, editor and chief of The Net Economy. "If there was an overwhelming choice within any category, it was Broadwing, best known for its national optical fiber backbone. Billed as the nation's first intelligent, all-optical network, the backbone is a multi-vendor marvel, combining Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing fiber with Ciena's optical core switching, Nortel Networks' routers and ultra-long-haul gear from Corvis."

"This prestigious award is a testament to the accomplishments of all of Broadwing's employees," said Rick Pontin, president and COO of Broadwing Communications. "From completing the industry's first, all-optical switched network, to provisioning a record breaking 38 OC-192 circuits in less than 60 days, to announcing the first trial of Optical GigE, our energetic, talented employees continue to lead the industry in creativity and innovation."

Christine Heckart, one of the judges and the president of TeleChoice, said, "I think they (Broadwing) are the ones pushing the envelope, and they are scaring the big players, which I believe is positive. They have done a very good job integrating new technologies into their network quickly, without making a mockery out of the process, and looking at, testing or implementing every new thing out there."

The Interop Infrastructure Awards honor providers for their innovations in meeting customers' needs and establishing cutting-edge network services. Broadwing was selected based upon the company's leadership in deploying the industry's first all-optical switched network and creating competitive advantages for its customers with its optical innovations, from the world's first wavelength services to the industry's first Optical Gigabit Ethernet Services.

Broadwing's success continues to be validated by numerous prestigious recognition including:

-- September 2001: Broadwing Wins Interop Infrastructure Award for Most
Innovative Backbone Service Provider

-- August 2001: Cincinnati Bell, a subsidiary of Broadwing Inc., Earns No. 1
Ranking in Local Customer Satisfaction From J.D. Power and Associates

-- July 2001: Cincinnati Bell Ranked Number One in Residential Long Distance
Customer Satisfaction Among Mainstream Users by J.D. Power and Associates

-- July 2001: Broadwing Recognized as One of the Top National ISPs by Network
World

-- June 2001: Broadwing Recognized by Business Week as One of the Top
Information Technology Companies in the World

-- March 2001: Broadwing Consistently Rated as One of the Top IP Performance
Companies by Matrix.Net

-- February 2001: Broadwing earns Ovations Award for Customer Service

About Broadwing

Broadwing Inc. (NYSE:BRW) is an integrated communications company comprised of Broadwing Communications and Cincinnati Bell. Broadwing Communications leads the industry as the world's first intelligent, all-optical, switched network provider and offers businesses nationwide a competitive advantage by providing data, voice and Internet solutions that are flexible, reliable and innovative on its 18,500-mile optical network and its award-winning IP backbone. Cincinnati Bell is one of the nation's most respected and best performing local exchange and wireless providers with a legacy of unparalleled customer service excellence and financial strength. Cincinnati Bell provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services to residential and business customers in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Broadwing Inc. is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information, visit www.broadwing.com.