Clarent Bolsters Russian Presence; Company Grows Russian Customer Base, Signs Distribution Agreement, Receives Interconnection Certification.

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

MOSCOW--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2001

Clarent Corporation (Nasdaq:CLRN), a leading provider of Internet Protocol (IP) communications solutions, today unveiled its moves to increase the company's presence in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

These activities include new Russian and CIS customers and regional distributors to support a growing customer base, and Russian and CIS interconnection certification from the Russian telecommunications commission.

Clarent's strategy and actions allow the company to take advantage of an emerging Voice over IP (VoIP) market in this region. Russian research firm Teleconsult-Moskva forecasts that in 2001, IP telephony will account for nearly half of Russia's international phone traffic and close to 14 percent of the country's local phone traffic. Russia's enterprise VoIP market is also growing: Teleconsult predicts in the coming year, 25 percent of Russian enterprises' intra-corporate traffic will run over IP telephony networks.

"Russia's IP telephony tariff rates are nearly ten times lower than those for traditional phone rates, igniting increasing demand for VoIP technology among regional carriers and enterprises," said Jeremy Duke, Synergy Research Group analyst. "In addition, Russia's Telecoms Ministry has begun licensing VoIP services as a separate business type, lifting development restrictions. In the next few years, expect more IP telephony firms to follow Clarent's lead into this emerging market."

Clarent's Russia-based customers include Zond Holding Inc., an alternative telecom service provider that has successfully used Clarent's software-driven VoIP platform to support more than 5 million minutes of long-distance phone traffic. Clarent products are also being used by Diona Holding to power Russia's first telecom clearinghouse, giving Diona the capability to facilitate long distance minutes exchange.

"The impressive growth in demand and use of VoIP technology in Russia and the CIS makes this a compelling market for Clarent," said Jerry Chang, CEO of Clarent Corporation. "Clarent technology can provide Russian consumers and businesses with high-quality, economical phone service and innovative communications services."

Other moves to firmly establish Clarent's presence in Russia and the CIS include distribution agreements with Diona Holding and SoftJoys Corporation, a St. Petersburg-based systems integrator and distributor for the Northwest region, giving Clarent greater access to potential customers in that area. Clarent also has received Russian and CIS certification for interconnection to the PSTN from GosSvyazNadzor, the Russian telecommunications commission.

About Clarent

Clarent Corporation (Nasdaq:CLRN) is a world leader in providing intelligent, software-driven products for new generation, IP-based communications networks. Clarent solutions enable interconnection among communications service providers' disparate networks and foster the creation of global footprints for more than 300 telecom service providers worldwide, including AT&T, NTT Communications and China Telecom. Clarent's software platform and softswitch encourage innovation by allowing carriers to develop multiple new features for consumers and enterprises. Founded in 1996, Clarent is headquartered in Redwood City, Calif. and has offices in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. To learn more about Clarent, visit its Web site at www.clarent.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the expected development of market demand for IP communications in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). These statements involve risks and uncertainties including those associated with the future demand for and adoption of IP communications in Russia and the CIS, as well as potential issues relating to Clarent's ability to introduce new products and ability to retain customers, changes in market conditions, changes in US and foreign government regulations, technological changes and other factors which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described further in the risk factors discussed in Clarent's periodic filings with the SEC.

Trademarks

Clarent, the Clarent logo, Clarent OpenAccess, NetPerformer, DynaStar, Clarent Command Center, Clarent ThroughPacket, Clarent CPG, Clarent OpenAccess, PowerCell, SkyPerformer, ACTview and ServiceXchange are trademarks or registered trademarks, and "The Clearer. The Better" is a service mark of Clarent Corporation in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.