PSINet Selects Tiara Networks' High-Speed Frame Switches for Dedicated Access Service.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 2000

Tiara Networks today announced that PSINet (NASDAQ: PSIX), the Internet Super Carrier, has chosen Tiara's new Series 7000 Frame Switch and Series 1000 Multi-Megabit Access Concentrator. The products will enhance PSINet's dedicated access services, including its Multi Megabit Service, which bundles up to seven T-1 lines filling the bandwidth gap between T-1 and T-3 data rates.

"The new Tiara products fit perfectly with our strategy to deploy next-generation equipment, enabling us to provision IP services over our high-performance, multi-service Frame Relay backbone," said Mark Fedor, vice president of engineering for PSINet. "PSINet will utilize the new Series 7000 to move access closer to our customers at distributed points of presence (POPs) and will offer the companion Series 1000 CPE products to customers who are beginning to demand symmetric Frame Relay services in the bandwidth gap between T-1 and T-3 data rates."

The Series 7000 Frame Switch is the industry's first product to support both Frame Relay and Multi-link Frame Relay (MFR) that enables a scalable POP, allowing customers to achieve higher than T-1 Internet access speeds. MFR fills the bandwidth gap between T-1, with a data rate of 1.5 Mbps, and T-3, with a data rate of 45 Mbps, by defining new Aggregated Virtual Circuit (AVC) services.

Tiara's Series 1000 Multi-Megabit Access Concentrator -- which is deployed at the customers' premises -- provides high-speed, high-performance symmetric Internet access from 3 to 12 Mbps by efficiently bundling multiple copper lines together. The equipment will provide PSINet customers with flexible and affordable multi-megabit access over ordinary copper local-loop wiring.

"We are excited that PSINet has selected Tiara Networks to provide equipment for its next-generation network architecture and new high-speed IP access services," commented Dan Palmer, Tiara's president and CEO. "Tiara is committed to supporting service providers as they strive to distribute the service aggregation function closer to customers. Such distribution yields a scalable architecture that is more profitable for service providers and more effective for their business subscribers. PSINet is a leader in innovation for business-class IP services, and Tiara is proud to deliver new aggregation solutions for their access services."

PSINet's Multi-Megabit Service bonds up to seven T-1 circuits in increments between 3Mbps and 10.5 Mbps. The service is ideal for customers with high bandwidth requirements such as high traffic web servers, application servers, and multimedia servers that require more than T-1 Internet access.

About Tiara Networks

Tiara Networks Incorporated, a Silicon Valley-based networking company, provides broadband access systems that supercharge IP and Frame Relay networks, enabling new-world networking solutions for both service providers and end users. For additional information, please visit Tiara Networks on-line at www.tiaranetworks.com.

About PSINet

Headquartered in Herndon, Va., PSINet is an Internet Super Carrier offering global e-commerce infrastructure and a full suite of retail and wholesale Internet services through wholly owned PSINet subsidiaries. Services are provided on PSINet-owned and operated fiber, satellite, web hosting and switching facilities providing direct access in more than 800 metropolitan areas in 27 countries on five continents. PSINet information can be obtained by e-mail at [e-mail], by accessing the web site at www.psinet.com or by calling in the U.S. 800-799-0676.

Note to Editors: See the separate press release titled "Tiara Networks Announces Industry's First Complete Multi-link Frame Relay Solution for Service Providers" for details about the new products.)