Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Launches Fully Integrated OSS Solution at Atlanta SUPERCOMM.

Business/Technology Editors

SUPERCOMM 2000

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6, 2000

BSNM, An End-to-End, `Plug-and-Play' OSS Solution, Integrates

Leading Software Applications to Give Service Providers a Flexible,

Scalable Model for Delivering Next Generation Services

Consulting powerhouse Cap Gemini Ernst & Young today announced the launch of an Operational Support System (OSS) that enables a wide range of service providers to offer next-generation broadband services.

Broadband Services & Network Management (BSNM) integrates the world's best-of-breed OSS applications into one "plug-and-play" solution that makes it possible for service providers to manage their business operations and customer services, while also supporting data, voice and video services. The new solution employs Web-based technologies to make network management and customer service more efficient.

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young is working with Cisco Systems, Inc. to provide the necessary networking and provisioning technologies for the BSNM solution. Phase one of BSNM seamlessly integrates Web-enabled customer self-care, order management and provisioning, service design and configuration, service activation, and billing. Cap Gemini Ernst & Young will officially launch the first phase of BSNM at SUPERCOMM in Atlanta, the week of June 5.

"The alliance we have with Cisco has allowed our firm to leverage the industry expertise and Internet technology that Cisco offers," says Lilly Chung, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young vice president for the Cisco Alliance. "Our Alliance team is paving the way towards a whole new way of supporting communications services, and BSNM is one of our solutions that will revolutionize next-generation offerings in the service provider industry."

BSNM has been designed around an open architecture, which uses a common information model to support data and telephony services over a wide range of transport and access infrastructures, including Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Broadband Cable, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and Frame Relay. An open architecture gives service providers the ability to add new and existing applications into their networks without disrupting service. With this flexibility, service providers are able to scale operations to meet changing demands in a fast paced and complex industry.

"Combining the management and provisioning of data, voice and video services with business operations functions allows service providers to rapidly create new revenues and differentiate their service offerings," said Todd Murray, group vice president of Cisco's Communications Software Group. "Cisco is rapidly becoming the supplier of choice for telecommunication services infrastructures, and our OSS efforts with CGE&Y are helping us reach that goal."

"Cap Gemini Ernst &Young is challenging the traditional OSS models with the flexibility, scalability and affordability of BSNM," says Telecom and Media Vice President Charles Koontz for Cap Gemini Ernst & Young "And our fast `time-to-revenues' value proposition is critical for a service provider's ability to compete and prosper in this dynamic industry. BSNM builds on our firm's solid history in delivering adaptable business solutions to service providers."

To develop this first phase of BSNM, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young teamed with Cisco, as well as software vendors Cygent, MetaSolv, Portal, Syndesis, Tibco and Xybridge to provide the applications for the solution's functionality. Cisco and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young are co-funding the ongoing development of BSNM. Future phases of BSNM will allow increased capabilities, such as network monitoring, fault management and performance management.

Information on BSNM and the Cap Gemini Ernst & Young alliance with Cisco will be available at the Ernst & Young kiosk at Cisco's New World EcoSystem Partner Pavilion (Exhibit Hall A, Booth #827) at SUPERCOMM. Representatives will also be available to discuss BSNM in meeting room 59 of the Georgia Dome. In addition, attendees will have an opportunity to view a live demonstration of the solution in a cable environment at the New Generation OSS Solutions Lab (SuperComm Booth #7855).

About Cap Gemini Ernst & Young

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young is one of the largest management and IT consulting firms in the world and is publicly traded on the Paris Bourse . The company offers management and IT consulting services, systems integration, and technology development, design and outsourcing capabilities on a global scale to help traditional businesses and "dot companies" continue to explore growth strategies in the new economy. The newly formed organization employs more than 57,000 people worldwide and reports global revenues of 7.7 billion euros (1999). More information about individual service lines, offices and research is available at www.capgemini.com.