Cincinnati Bell Makes Equipment Upgrades Convenient, Easy For Business Customers.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 31, 2000

Fujitsu Software Allows Cincinnati Bell to Upgrade Equipment

Without Sending Technicians to Customer Premises

Cincinnati Bell Telephone, a subsidiary of Broadwing Inc. (NYSE:BRW), today announced it has deployed a new software upgrade that eliminates the need for on-site visits to business customer premises for equipment upgrades.

Cincinnati Bell is the nation's first telecommunications provider to transition to a full "software download" capability using all seven layers of the Open Systems Interface (OSI) protocol.

The OSI protocol is used within the company's Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) to deliver software upgrades to business customers' communications equipment without onsite visits. This new capability is made possible through software developed by Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc., of Richardson, Texas.

"This capability adds tremendous efficiency, speed, and convenience for our customers as well as our operations," said Roger Rosenberger, vice president of network operations for Cincinnati Bell Telephone. "We know our customers will welcome these quick and non-intrusive upgrades."

Cincinnati Bell can now upgrade equipment without the need of a technician on-site, which means less inconvenience for customers. Prior to software download, the technician had to physically replace circuit cards, which can be a time-consuming and expensive process.

When deploying an upgraded version of software, Cincinnati Bell will receive the upgrade from Fujitsu. The Network Operations Center (NOC), utilizing Fujitsu's network management system, will use OSI connectivity to transfer new software into each network element on customer premises and within Cincinnati Bell's Central Offices. This allows Cincinnati Bell to choose a predetermined time for the upgrade to take place. At that time, the new software replaces the old software in each network element, giving new capabilities or refinements.

The software download capability is the latest example of Cincinnati Bell's innovative technology leadership. In 1992, Cincinnati Bell became the first telecommunications company in the nation to deploy Fujitsu's SONET rings -- a "self-healing" network architecture that allows the communications network to continue operation during natural disasters, equipment outages, or even damage to the fiber-optic cables.

Cincinnati Bell utilizes Fujitsu's FLM 150, FLM 600 and FLM 2400 SONET add/drop multiplexers, which mixes customers' voice and data signals onto a single fiber-optic channel for transmission throughout their network. The company also uses Fujitsu's FACTR(R) access/transport system, to extend the advantages of fiber in the network for the benefit of business and residential customers.

About Fujitsu Network Communications

Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc., designs and manufactures fiber-optic transmission and broadband switching platforms, develops software that allows customers to perform in-service management and monitoring of the telephone network, and provides network design, installation, and maintenance services. Its customers include local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, competitive access providers, and cable TV operators, as well as large private networks in North America. Fujitsu Network Communications is part of Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702), a $50 billion leading provider of comprehensive information technology and networking solutions for the global marketplace. Product information is available by calling 800/777-FAST. Its World Wide Web site is www.fnc.fujitsu.com.

About Cincinnati Bell Telephone and Broadwing Inc.

Cincinnati Bell 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.

SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD: A TECHNICAL CLOSE-UP

Cincinnati Bell Telephone's new ability to upgrade its communications equipment at customer sites, without having to visit the site and inconvenience its customers, is based on a technique known in the telecommunications industry as "software download."

The software is capable of being downloaded to the Fujitsu's SONET add/drop multiplexers, and Fujitsu's FACTR access/transport system using FLEXR(R) Plus network management system. This gives the ability to quickly upgrade network elements throughout Cincinnati Bell's SONET network. The company's network elements consist of FLM 150, FLM 600 ADM, and FLM 2400 ADM multiplexers, as well as the FACTR systems.

The FLM 150, FLM 600 ADM, and FLM 2400 ADM systems transmit voice and data traffic respectively at rates of 155 megabits per second (OC-3), 622 Mbps, (OC-12), and 2.5 gigabits per second (OC-48).

Before implementation of software download, Cincinnati Bell dispatched technicians to manually update each network element every time a new upgrade or enhancement was deployed. Technicians had to have access to the equipment -- some of which is located on Cincinnati Bell customers' property -- and physically remove and replace cards. This required customer contact, scheduling, and general inconvenience. Often, to avoid any interruptions in service, the work had to be done at customers' sites at night, which meant further inconvenience.

Now Cincinnati Bell uses FLEXR Plus network management system from Fujitsu to send the software revisions or upgrades right to the network elements, making a site visit unnecessary. The entire software upgrade process is done in-service, with no effect on network traffic. Fujitsu supplies a copy of the new software for each product type to Cincinnati Bell's Network Operations Center, which takes care of the upgrade through FLEXR Plus.

The software download capability lowers Cincinnati Bell's costs and allows it to make better use of technicians' time. It also results in more efficient management of the Fujitsu network equipment.

FACTR(R) is a registered trademark of Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. FLEXR(R) is a registered trademark of Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc.