CrossKeys Joins Industry-Wide ODSI Initiative to Accelerate Development of Next Generation Public Networks.

Business Editors

VIENNA, VIRGINIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 2000

CrossKeys multi-vendor and multi-technology expertise part

of industry-wide initiative to resolve inter-operability issues for

next generation communications

CrossKeys Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: CKEY)(TSE:CKY.), today announced that it has joined a group of 50 networking vendors and service providers to form the Optical Domain Service Interconnect (ODSI) initiative -- an open industry-wide coalition for inter-operability between electrical and optical network service domains. Through this initiative's focus, service providers and their customers will be able to deploy networks that can handle the explosive growth of data traffic over the public network. Sycamore Networks (NASDAQ: SCMR) will host the first ODSI meeting on January 18, 2000 in Boston, Mass.

"Competition and the demand for bandwidth from eCommerce and the Internet industry means service providers must use their networks to peak efficiency," says Ian McLaren, President and CEO, CrossKeys. "Sycamore's ODSI initiative addresses the same issues for optical inter-networking as we do in performance management and network management. These include networks that can grow to meet the business; standards-based inter-operability and multi-vendor capability."

Focused on opening the interface to the next generation optical network, the ODSI initiative will help drive innovation in service creation and delivery of high-speed optical networks. The group will select and apply extensions to recognized industry interfaces and protocols, conduct inter-operable solutions testing, and promote technical recommendations to the appropriate industry standards organizations. The ODSI coalition consists of international networking vendors and service providers including Siemens, UUNet and Williams Communications Group.

CrossKeys software is engineered to inter-operate with multiple vendors and technologies. Participating in the ODSI initiative ensures that as service providers increasingly transport Internet Protocol traffic directly over an optical layer, CrossKeys products will be able to deliver the necessary vendor mediation, as well as network and performance management.

About ODSI

Optical Domain Service Interconnect (ODSI) is an open, industry-wide initiative inaugurated by Sycamore Networks in cooperation with a diverse group of service providers and networking vendors. ODSI represents a coalition of networking professionals with a common interest in selecting, applying and promoting the open interfaces and signaling protocols that will allow higher-layer service networks to effectively inter-operate with an evolving and dynamic optical network core. Responding to industry needs, the ODSI coalition represents a collaborative effort to open the interface to the next generation optical network and help drive innovation in service creation and delivery. For more information on ODSI, please contact Scott Larson at 978-250-3433.

About CrossKeys

CrossKeys Systems Corporation (www.crosskeys.com) develops and supports carrier-scale software that enables the world's largest and most demanding service providers to manage the equipment and traffic on their telecom networks. CrossKeys has demonstrated experience with multi-vendor and multi-technology networks, including IP, ATM, Frame Relay and broadband access technologies such as DSL and cable. This expertise enables service providers to offer business applications, such as eCommerce and VPNs, with the minimum of infrastructure investment and the competitive guarantees that enterprise end-customers require.

CrossKeys Systems Corporation is a public company whose common shares are listed for trading on NASDAQ (CKEY) in the United States and on The Toronto Stock Exchange (CKY) in Canada.

CrossKeys and logo are registered trademarks of CrossKeys Systems Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders and are acknowledged by CrossKeys Systems Corporation.