Universal Access Forms Strategic Relationships With Two Additional Carriers; Expands Network Intelligence and Reach to Fulfill Increasing Customer Needs.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2001

Universal Access Inc. (NASDAQ: UAXS), a leading provider of network infrastructure services, today announced it has reached agreements with two additional telecommunications carriers - EPIK Communications and FiberNet Telecom Group (NASDAQ: FTGX) - advancing the network provisioning options in Universal Access' interconnection facilities and adding additional information to its database of circuit information to better service its customers. The addition of EPIK and FiberNet will ultimately give Universal Access a greater number of choices to better fulfill its customers' off-net provisioning and network needs.

"As we continue to expand our capabilities, Universal Access is dedicated to offering an extensive scope of services within the metropolitan loop," said Bob Rainone, president of global operations, Universal Access. "Our agreements with both EPIK Communications and FiberNet will allow Universal Access to provide our customers increased networking and service options by deploying these carriers' metro local loop capabilities."

In addition to expanding its network capabilities, the new agreements will allow Universal Access to increase its already vast and proprietary database of network intelligence, known as the Universal Information Exchange (UIX) database, which consists of more than 18.1 million data points. By leveraging this information, Universal Access is able to provide its clients point-to-point solutions across geographically dispersed network segments and will be able to efficiently and cost-effectively use EPIK and FiberNet's networks. With access to a greater number of circuit routes, Universal Access' clients can easily extend their network reach and are better positioned to offer a broader range of point-to-point options to their customers.

EPIK has an IP-On-Wave OC-192c backbone in the Southeast U.S. that provides SONET services, wavelength services up to 10 Gigabit, and a suite of enlightened IPSM services. FiberNet owns and operates metropolitan networks that connect carriers between and within carrier hotels and select Class A commercial office properties in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

About EPIK Communications

EPIK Communications, a leading carriers' carrier, has lit a 1,850 mile regional fiber network in the Southeastern United States and is developing a fiber footprint beyond the Southeast via swaps. EPIK's Southeast network features a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) IP-on-Wave OC-192c (10Gbps) backbone. The Southeast network reaches 11 key cities, including the cities of Atlanta, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami; EPIK is also developing fiber "metro rings" in these five cities. The combination of EPIK's long haul and metro fiber assets, its express rings connecting the major international cable landings in South Florida, and its participation in the NAP of the Americas Consortium, position EPIK to service the growing telecom market in Latin America. EPIK provides wholesale services including bandwidth (private lines), wave services, Internet protocol (IP) services, collocation, and dark fiber to long distance, international, and wireless carriers, Internet service providers (ISPs), and competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs). Visit EPIK on the Web at www.epik.net or call EPIK at 407-482-8400.

About FiberNet

FiberNet Telecom Group, Inc. enables carriers to connect directly with one another with unprecedented speed and simplicity over its 100% fiber optic networks. FiberNet manages high-density short-haul networks between carrier hubs within major metropolitan areas. By using FiberNet's next-generation infrastructure, carriers can quickly and efficiently deliver the full potential of their high bandwidth data, voice and video services directly to their customers. FiberNet has lit multiple strangs of fiber on a redundant and diverly routed SONET ring and IP architecture throughout New York Class A commercial buildings, at speeds up to OC-192 SONET and Gigabit Ethernet. For more information on FiberNet, please visit the company's website at www.ftgx.com.

About Universal Access

Universal Access is the only company capable of interconnecting thousands of telecom networks so telecommunications, Internet and application service providers can speed up the delivery of voice and data services worldwide, helping them generate revenues faster while minimizing operational and capital expenditures. Universal Access combines its unique and powerful database that provides a birds-eye view of virtually every major supplier's network and its strategically positioned interconnection facilities to supply complete turnkey solutions known as UniversalNET(SM) solutions. UniversalNET enables service providers to quickly and more efficiently control procurement, management, billing and operations of high capacity private line circuits from multiple vendors. Universal Access is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and has regional offices in Herndon, Virginia, Santa Clara, California, London, England, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Visit www.universalaccess.net for more information.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

This release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, including but not limited to statements regarding the intention to accelerate provisioning times, increase sales to clients, purchase services from suppliers and optimize circuit routing by using UIX databases and facilities. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, potential inability to maintain and expand UIX databases, difficulties or delays in provisioning circuits (which may include circuits provisioned on EPIK or FiberNet's networks), the fact that clients may withdraw an order with minimal liability before accepting a circuit, the difficulty of attracting new clients or increasing sales to existing clients, potential shortfalls in purchase commitments, difficulties or delays in building or operating UTX facilities and deploying optical switches, and the need to raise additional capital. For other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company's business, refer to the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this paragraph.