DSL.net Announces New Agreements That Expand Its Wholesale and Retail Customer Base; Multi-lines Expected to Generate Additional Revenue, Improve Margin.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NEW HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2004

DSL.net, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSLN), a leading nationwide provider of broadband communications services to businesses, said today that it has recently (1) agreed to become the wholesale supplier of high-speed broadband services for a pair of new resellers; (2) expanded an existing direct retail service agreement with, and added new lines for, a major national retail customer; and (3) expanded its relationship with a Northeast systems integrator as part of a multi-line project for a Northeast-based healthcare corporation.

The transactions involve the following:

-- A wholesale agreement with InfoHighway Communications, a

leading integrated communications provider that offers

services to small and medium- sized businesses in 12

Northeastern states, Washington, D.C., and Texas.

-- A wholesale agreement with GRIC Communications, a leading

provider of managed remote solutions for distributed

enterprises, that expands the reach of GRIC's secure global

access network, which features a total of approximately 10,000

Wi-Fi hot spots and hotel Ethernet access points.

-- An agreement with Rent-A-Center to provide data communications 

services for approximately 30 new retail locations in nine

states and an extension of an existing agreement for 87

locations in 28 states. As a result of these agreements,

DSL.net currently provides broadband services to a total of

nearly 300 Rent-A- Center locations throughout the country.

-- DSL.net has been named a preferred provider by Norcom

Communication Solutions as part of a multi-line project that

the systems integrator is managing for a major Northeast-based

healthcare corporation, which is launching a teleworker 

program that currently includes broadband access for 40

locations - with the potential to increase that number in the

second half of the year.

"All of these agreements further leverage our high-quality, reliable nationwide broadband network and provide us with additional and continued revenue streams, as well as improved margin," said Keith Markley, president and chief operating officer of DSL.net. "We look forward to providing outstanding service to these new customers and partners, as well as expanding our relationships with existing customers and partners."

About InfoHighway Communications

InfoHighway Communications Corporation is a leading integrated communications provider (ICP) offering competitively priced and state-of-the-art local, long distance voice and data telecommunications and Internet services to small and medium-sized businesses in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States. Services are currently offered in major metropolitan markets in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Texas. For more information, visit the Company Web site at www.infohighway.com or call 1-877-375-4636.

About GRIC Communications, Inc.

GRIC Communications, Inc. is the world's leading provider of managed remote solutions for distributed enterprises. GRIC provides the industry's only total remote solution from a single provider across all remote environments - mobile, teleworker/home office and branch office/retail - with centralized security, management and control. The GRIC TierOne Network(TM) is the world's largest access network and the world's largest mobile broadband network. More information about GRIC is available at www.gric.com or by calling 877-GET-GRIC in North America or 408-955-1920 elsewhere.

About Rent-A-Center, Inc.

Rent-A-Center, Inc., with headquarters in Plano, Texas, currently operates 2,835 company-owned stores nationwide and in Canada and Puerto Rico. The stores generally offer high-quality, durable goods such as home electronics, appliances, computers, and furniture and accessories to consumers under flexible rental purchase arrangements that generally allow the customer to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of an agreed-upon rental period. ColorTyme, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a national franchiser of approximately 322 rent-to-own stores, 310 of which operate under the trade name of "ColorTyme," and the remaining 12 of which operate under the "Rent-A-Center" name. Read more about Rent-A-Center at www.rentacenter.com.

About Norcom Communication Solutions

Norcom Communication Solutions is a national provider of communications infrastructure services that concentrates on developing architecture of telecommunication systems, cabling networks and transport design to work in tandem with the client business operatives. Norcom is a highly respected advisory firm and product distributor, with over 1,000 local New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, regional and U.S. domestic customers. More information about Norcom is available at the Company's Web site, www.norcomsolutions.com, or by calling 1-877-NORCOM1.

About DSL.net

DSL.net, Inc. is a leading nationwide provider of broadband communications services to businesses. The Company combines its own facilities, nationwide network infrastructure and Internet Service Provider (ISP) capabilities to provide high-speed Internet access, private network solutions and value-added services directly to small- and medium-sized businesses or larger enterprises looking to connect multiple locations. DSL.net product offerings include T-1, DS-3 and business-class DSL services, virtual private networks (VPNs), frame relay, Web hosting, DNS management, enhanced e-mail, online data backup and recovery services, firewalls and nationwide dial-up services, as well as integrated voice and data offerings in select markets. For more information, visit www.dsl.net, e-mail [e-mail] or call 1-877-DSL-NET1 (1-877-375-6381).

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond DSL.net's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things, (i) DSL.net's unproven business model, which may not be successful; (ii) DSL.net's ability to execute its business plan in a timely manner to generate sufficient revenue, contain certain discretionary spending or achieve certain other business plan objectives; (iii) regulatory, legislative and judicial developments, which could adversely affect the way DSL.net operates its business; (iv) competition; and (v) DSL.net's dependence on wholesale providers to provide it with local DSL and T-1 facilities in areas where it has not deployed its own equipment. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. DSL.net undertakes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional information regarding these and other risks faced by DSL.net, see the disclosure contained under "Risk Factors'' in DSL.net's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

DSL.net is a trademark of DSL.net, Inc. Other company names may be trademarks of their respective owners.