NPLS....news from the DLJ conference...any thoughts how LU's Stinger fits into this picture?...or know anything about voice over dsl?
solid base at 16....
Tuesday September 14, 4:11 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Network Plus Announces Deployment of
Voice-over-DSL Service
Revolutionary Technology Could Dramatically Impact Telephone & Internet Access Rates
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 1999-- Network Plus Corp. (NASDAQ:NPLS - news) today announced
that it is deploying Voice-over DSL (VoDSL) technology on its own network. At the Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Growth
Stock Conference in New York, Network Plus announced that VoDSL is currently being installed in 20 key co-locations, with
100 co-locations scheduled for completion by first quarter 2000. This will make the company one of the first in the nation to
provide VoDSL service.
As one of the first Integrated Communications Providers (ICP) to begin deploying VoDSL, ''Network Plus has introduced a
revolutionary, more cost-effective way of transmitting voice and data,'' said President and Chief Executive Officer Robert T.
Hale Jr. VoDSL combines the speed of dedicated DSL service with multiple toll-quality voice calls over a single copper line.
This reduces the need for numerous individual telephone lines, significantly lowering the cost of providing service.
''The efficiency of Voice-over-DSL enables us to offer bundled services to small- and medium-sized businesses at a significant
cost savings,'' Hale continued. ''Our Voice-over-DSL customers will be able to reduce costs by using a single high-speed line
for their voice and data communication needs.''
Hale said he expects VoDSL to force the nation's large telephone companies to ''re-visit their pricing structures'' in order to
compete against Integrated Communication Providers who offer VoDSL service, such as Network Plus. ''Our technology
enables us to provide up to 16 telephone lines and include high-speed Internet access, all over a single DSL connection.
Instead of having to pay for, provide and service 16 copper lines, we will now only have to pay for, provide and service one
copper line for that same customer. In short, VoDSL is tailor-made for our target market. It enables us to offer bundled
services, including 'always on' high-speed data, to small and medium-sized businesses, and do it at a significant savings to both
the customer, and to ourselves.''
Hale also added that VoDSL technology is currently being installed in Network Plus' first 20 co-locations and at Brown
University. Brown is joining a select group of Network Plus customers that will be the first Beta customers in the nation using
VoDSL. The company expects to roll the service out to its base of more than 40,000 customers over the next two quarters.
''Network Plus' VoDSL technology provides customers with a cost-effective solution to their diverse communication needs,''
said Richard Kendall, the company's senior vice president of sales. ''Because the data and voice transmissions are travelling
through one DSL line, customers are able to receive a reduced cost on Network Plus' complete array of communication
applications. In addition, customers like Brown University will enjoy enhanced toll-quality voice on their telephones and gain
faster Internet access.''
Providing the equipment for Network Plus to complete the integration are Jetstream Communications of Los Gatos, California,
San Jose-based AccessLan Communications, and Lucent Technologies, located in Murray Hill, NJ. Using Jetstream's
CPX-1000 gateway switch and Integrated Access Device, AccessLan's PL5000 multiplexer and PL2000 service
concentrator, and Lucent's 5ESS-2000 local switch and CBX-500 ATM switch, Network Plus believes they are offering the
best combination of products and services to provide total VoDSL solutions.
Network Plus has grown considerably since its inception in 1990. In June, the company completed its successful initial public
offering, raising $147.2 million to become the largest ICP headquartered in the Northeast. The company reported 1998
revenue of $105.5 million.
About Network Plus
Network Plus is a network-based communications provider offering broadband data and communications services, including
domestic and international long-distance service, dedicated high-speed digital communications services utilizing Digital
Subscriber Line, or DSL, technology, local exchange service and enhanced voice and Internet services. The company is
headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts, and has branch locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode
Island, New York, Georgia, and Florida.
Safe Harbor Provision
The statements in this press release concerning the company's expectations and beliefs about its Voice-over-DSL service and
the telecommunications industry are ''forward looking statements'' as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
indicated by such forward-looking statements. The risk factors are detailed in the registration statements and periodic reports
filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Sharon Merrill Associates, Inc.
Scott Solomon, 617/542-5300
ssolomon@sharonmerrillassoc.com
or
Network Plus Corp.
George Alex, 617/786-4000
Chief Financial Officer
galex@nwp.com |
