Cisco Remains in the Top Position in Technology Business Research, Inc. 4Q99 NBQ Ranking.

Business/Technology Editors

HAMPTON, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 2000

Industry Focused on Growth Opportunities in Optical, Wireless,

and Mobile Internet Markets

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) remains in the top spot in TBR's (www.tbri.com) Network Business Quarterly (NBQ) competitive benchmark ranking. Based on its flawless execution this quarter, Cisco is clearly demonstrating that it will be a major force in the communications equipment industry, and is successfully building upon its dominant position in data networking. -0-

             NBQ Benchmark Index for Fourth Quarter 1999

            4Q99 Rank             3Q99 Score   3Q99 Rank  4Q99 Score

#1    Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO)           6.77         #1         6.95
#2    3Com (Nasdaq: COMS)            5.58         #2         5.93
#3    HP (NYSE: HWP)                 5.38         #3         5.53
#4    Intel (Nasdaq: INTC)           5.35         #4         5.36
#5    Cabletron (NYSE: CS)           4.21         #9         4.78
#6    IBM (NYSE: IBM)                4.29         #8         4.74
#7    Marconi (OTC ADR: MCONY)       4.39         #7         4.49
#8    Lucent (Nasdaq: LU)            4.84         #5         4.11
#9    Nortel (NYSE: NT, TSE: NTL)    4.72         #6         4.09

Source: TBR

"The convergence of the Internet and communications continues to create substantial new market opportunities across multiple industries," according to TBR's Director of Network Business Quarterly, Bill Lesieur. "The industry leaders are all positioning themselves to capture these opportunities, including mobile Internet, wireless and optical networking, broadband access, and unified communications. At the same time, the old industry structure of traditional data networking equipment manufacturers has given way to the new competitive environment based on the broader communications equipment markets. Casualties of this industry transformation include Cabletron (NYSE: CS) and 3Com (Nasdaq: COMS), both of which were forced to break-up their organizations to compete as smaller companies focused on growth markets."

Lucent (Nasdaq: LU) experienced a downturn in revenue growth this quarter, while Nortel (NYSE: NT, TSE: NTL) gained momentum in the market, in spite of its massive internal organizational and external market challenges. Alcatel (NYSE: ALA) is taking advantage of the media hype surrounding the emerging mobile Internet market by promoting its communication portal platform and mobile Internet solutions. Meanwhile, Marconi (LSE: MNI; ADR: MCONY), which includes the former Fore Systems organization, is still in the process of creating worldwide awareness under its new name.

Starting in the 1Q00 Network Business Quarterly (NBQ) reports, TBR will begin coverage of Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERICY). The Ericsson report will replace the NBQ coverage of IBM, which exited the networking equipment industry with the sale of its switch and router business to Cisco in 1999. However, TBR continues to provide full coverage of IBM as part of its Computer Business Quarterly (CBQ) service.

About TBR:

TBR's highly quantitative, proprietary benchmarking methodology ranks the leading global networking vendors on a comparative basis every quarter, based on effective implementation of product strategy, marketing strategy, manufacturing strategy, and business model. TBR specializes in industry benchmarking and strategic analysis of the major players in the global networking and communications markets through its Network Business Quarterly (NBQ) service.

Complete details are available to accredited journalists. For more information, please visit TBR's website at www.tbri.com, or contact: