MCI Enhances Frame Relay with Switched Virtual Circuits.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 9, 1997--

New Service Gives Data Customers Unmatched Connectivity Options,

With Instant Broadband Bandwidth on Demand

MCI today introduced switched virtual circuits (SVCs) to its HyperStream Frame Relay service. The new enhancement will enable frame relay customers to callup bandwidth on demand -- anywhere from 16 Kilobits per second to six Megabits per second, on all ports up to six Mbps. MCI is the first carrier to announce this capability seamlessly integrated with other features and some 500 points of presence.

"Once again MCI is leading the industry in innovation and performance," said Stephen Von Rump, MCI vice president of Enterprise Services. "With switched virtual circuits, MCI HyperStream frame relay customers will now be able to dynamically connect to another location, or even another company's data network with high performance, security and integrity. This new enhancement makes frame relay an even more flexible and economic service for meeting the ever changing application needs of today's corporate customers."

How it Works

Frame relay SVCs will enable customers to establish temporary connections on demand through MCI's HyperStream Frame Relay network. The connections can be activated and deactivated as a company's needs arise and change, giving customers the flexibility to alter connections and the associated bandwidth between any sites on their network virtually instantaneously.

"SVC capability on frame relay networking has the potential to dramatically change the paradigm that has been associated with the service to date," said Von Rump. "Whether a company uses SVCs to support intermittent communications between remote sites, adding voice and or video over frame relay, or just for network redundancy, SVCs will make frame relay a more economic service for customers by enabling them to adapt connectivity and bandwidth on the fly. Coupled with MCI's industry leading support of frame relay bandwidth greater than T-1 and prioritized PVCs, MCI becomes the undisputed choice for multimedia over frame."

MCI's implementation of SVCs is compliant with the Frame Relay Forum's FRF.4 Implementation Agreement. Additionally, MCI will provide customers the additional capability of having closed user group screening and the coexistence of SVCs with Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVCs) on the same customer port.

Key Customer Benefits/Applications

-- Flexible Networking

Connectivity between every host and remote site on a customer's network is now possible on an as needed basis. Since SVCs can provide this universal connectivity on an as needed basis, customers will not need to use PVCs to provide this mesh network functionality.

-- Network redundancy

SVCs can be used for network redundancy in the event of access failure. This enables the quick switchover needed for mission critical business applications.

-- Reduced costs

SVCs can be utilized in automated reconfiguration schemes. This reduces manual intervention as well as network management costs. SVCs can also be used to support occasional connectivity requirements, thereby conserving router processing resources and enabling frame relay networks to be built using less expensive routers.

-- Intercompany communications

SVCs can quickly link two or more companies and tie data networks together. This supports such business activities as order processing, inventory control, just-in-time manufacturing, and inter-enterprise invoicing.

-- Voice/video over frame relay

SVCs support bandwidth as high as six Mbps, which is ideal for applications such as voice over frame relay and video conferencing over frame relay. As the technology matures, it is anticipated that SVCs will be used for intercorporate communications between multiple companies.

MCI is currently trialing frame relay SVCs with several companies. The commercial rollout of the new enhancement is scheduled for December.

MCI HyperStream Frame Relay is an important transport component of MCI's Enterprise Services portfolio, providing a growth path for customers' locations that support high-bandwidth requirements such as multimedia, or applications that require varying network transport characteristics. Introduced last year, MCI Enterprise Services combines single-source, integrated network products and services with new levels of interoperability and expertise in addressing complex business information and communications requirements.

MCI's Enterprise Services is part of the company's Enterprise Solutions -- a comprehensive initiative that consolidates MCI's broad range of interoperability network technologies, network products, Internet services and integration/consulting services. Through Enterprise Solutions, information technology customers get a single point of contact resulting in better integration, interoperable solutions and simplified pricing and billing.

MCI, headquartered in Washington, D.C., offers the industry's most comprehensive portfolio of communication services. With 1996 revenues of $18.5 billion, MCI ranks as one of the world's largest telecommunications companies. MCI is also the world's third largest carrier of international voice traffic and operates one of the world's most advanced Internet networks. Since its founding in 1968 MCI has been a leader in bringing the benefits of long distance competition to businesses and consumers and is now leading the charge to open U.S. local calling markets to competition.

CONTACT: MCI Telecommunications

John R. Hauser/Ed Bergstraesser

1-800-644-NEWS