Datum Partners with Empowered Networks to Deliver Turnkey Timing Solutions For Fast-Growing Global Synchronization Market.

Business Editors & Technology Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 10, 2000

Complex Network Timing Drives Carriers and Enterprise Operators

To Seek Turnkey Timing Solutions

Turnkey synchronization is stepping into the forefront of network planning thanks to the combined efforts of two North American timing trendsetters. Datum Inc, (Nasdaq:DATM), the world's premier provider of timing and synchronization solutions, and Empowered Networks, Inc., the leading Canadian network performance and management corporation, joined forces to offer international carriers and enterprise operators a complete portfolio of world-class products combined with unique, value-added services and management systems.

The Datum/Empowered Networks partnership dominates the Canadian market in synchronization survey, planning, implementation and maintenance. This partnership also plays a vital role in the deployment of core network infrastructures in global communications markets, including the United States, Europe, Mexico, Australia and Asia Pacific.

"The Datum/Empowered Networks partnership gives carriers a comprehensive synchronization strategy that begins at the network planning and design phase, and continues well beyond network launch and service roll-out," says Erik van der Kaay, chairman and chief executive officer of Datum.

"We are responding to the global market demand for turnkey timing solutions by providing carriers with an unmatched level of products and services from a single source. Total system expertise is the market trend. This saves operating expenses and reduces customer churn that is generated by inadequate synchronization solutions. Our partnership brings the decisive advantage of a well-executed synchronization strategy to the global telecom community."

Service providers increasingly face the need for reliable synchronization as transmission speeds dramatically increase, and the voice and data networks continue to converge. To meet demands for optimum quality of service (QoS), carriers and enterprise operators rely on timing systems that easily, cost-effectively adapt to a broad array of transport mediums, including ATM, IP, DSL, SONET/SDH, TDM, frame relay and wireless platforms.

Datum products support all conventional systems as well as emerging services such as voice over IP with self-contained clock components such as Quartz, Rubidium, Cesium, GPS and CDMA timing systems. The company recently unveiled the first embedded synchronization chipset, further simplifying and streamlining network timing.

Empowered Networks complements the Datum NetSyncPlus(R) product family with its own value-added performance management services, including installation, training, testing and acceptance. Virtually every SONET network deployed in Canada and many international, core networks are synchronized by the Empowered Networks team.

"Synchronization is one of those technologies that, unfortunately, often is left until the last moment," explains Glen Emo president of Empowered Networks. "It is a critical part of network performance, but it is often an afterthought that follows the purchase of fiber-optic circuits, add/drop multiplexers and switching systems.

"We interface with our customers at the right time and drive the network timing process so they are not waiting until the last moment to purchase a system that may not meet their overall, long-term needs. Empowered Networks takes a very proactive approach to maximizing the return on investment made by our customers."

Combining the talents of market leaders is now the prevalent trend for expanding throughout the global market. The comprehensive nature of the Datum/Empowered Networks venture sets it apart.

"This high level of expertise and superior class of support to customers is a bit revolutionary," says Jack Rice, president of Datum-Austin. "Empowered Networks provides a pre-installation sync service in which they will develop a sync plan, and then delivers everything from soup to nuts for timing carrier-class networks. Datum provides the hardware and software solutions, along with the backup service and support.

"These services are being very well accepted because the investment has been made to develop the expertise and knowledge in staff who can sit with a customer, write a sync plan and then deliver the world's leading network timing technology. That is the key."

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Datum designs, manufactures and markets advanced, cost-effective network synchronization, timing and frequency solutions for telecommunications, computer networks, satellite systems, and test and measurement applications. With more than 42,000 solutions in operation worldwide, Datum is the worldwide leader in timing and synchronization. Additional information about Datum's NetSyncPlus(R) product family is available at www.datum.com.

Empowered Networks Inc. is a leading provider of network management and performance solutions for e-business networks. These solutions form the cornerstone of complex multi-service networks operated by many of the world's largest service providers and businesses. Empowered Networks delivers a unique combination of value-added services and best-in-class products to network element manufacturers, service providers and large enterprises in the Canadian market and internationally through carefully selected partnerships. For more information on Empowered Networks, call [phone], or visit the Web site at www.empowerednetworks.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements, which reflect management's best judgment based on factors currently known, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the following: customer concentration, competition, availability of supplies and components, fluctuations in demand for wireless and wireline communication services and products, and acceptance of the Company's products and technology. These factors and other risks inherent in the Company's business are described from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000. Actual results may vary materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.