Cabletron's SPECTRUM to manage RAF networks; SPECTRUM used at 24 Royal Air Force sites around the world.

ROCHESTER, NH--(BUSINESS EDITORS)--Dec. 19, 1995--Cabletron Systems (NYSE:CS) today announced it was awarded a multi-million dollar computer networking contract to supply the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the United Kingdom with SPECTRUM -- the industry's most advanced, distributed enterprise management platform.

The contract was won by Nortel World Trade Business Services (a division of Northern Telecom). Nortel will supply local area networks for the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense, with Cabletron as the strategic sub-contractor. The contract involves providing distributed network management across 24 RAF sites around the world, with two sets of SPECTRUM at each site.

"The selection of Cabletron's SPECTRUM allowed Nortel to propose a completely distributed network management system," said Dave Sanders, Nortel's Divisional Director. "This proved to be the most cost-effective network management solution in terms of its impact upon the through-life, cost of operating and supporting the RAF networks."

Cabletron's SPECTRUM, the industry's first fully distributed enterprisewide network management platform with a true client-server architecture, allows for multiple users at distributed sites to share a common management database. This allows for a fully scaleable multi-user solution for enterprise systems management.

"Within the Network Control Centers and other RAF sites, SPECTRUM will manage multiple network devices from a number of hardware vendors," said Michael Welts worldwide marketing director, Cabletron. "This clearly demonstrates SPECTRUM's industry-leading ability to manage distributed, multivendor networks."

Over the last year, SPECTRUM has won prestigious industry awards from Data Communications and Network Computing magazines as well as an Application Excellence Award from Faulkner Information Services.

Cabletron Systems, Inc. is the largest company in the world dedicated exclusively to computer networking products and services. With corporate headquarters in Rochester, NH, the company has 86 offices around the world and employs 5,500 people. Over the last four quarters the company has reported record revenue of $934 million and earnings of $188 million.

Cabletron develops, manufactures, markets and services high-quality internetworking products as well as the industry's most advanced network and systems management software. Cabletron products support a broad selection of hardware and software protocols for flexibility in network design. Through it commitment to well-managed innovation, Cabletron offers customers the richest, most cost-effective set of options for integrating new, high-productivity computer technologies into existing networks. -0-

Cabletron's World Wide Web site can be reached on the Internet at http://www.cabletron.com/

Cabletron and Spectrum are trademarks of Cabletron Systems. All other product or services mentioned in this document are identified by the trademark or service mark of their respective companies or organizations.

CONTACT: Cabletron Systems

Bob Olson, 603/337-1048

e-mail: [e-mail]