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To: Steve Fancy who wrote (3217)	4/24/2001 2:01:33 PM
From: Steve Fancy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3891

Alcatel's DWDM Solutions Selected by Portugal Telecom for Its National Optical Backbone Network DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 2001-- The first 32-channel DWDM system ever deployed in Portugal starts real traffic operations today PT-Comunicacoes (PT Com) - a company owned by Portugal Telecom, the largest telecom and multimedia business organization in Portugal - awarded Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE:ALA) a multi-million Euro contract to build Portugal's first 32-channel DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) long-haul transmission network. The new high-capacity and high-speed national backbone network, which starts real traffic operations today, is connecting the two major cities across Portugal - Lisbon and Oporto - spanning a 350 kilometers distance and interfaces with Portugal Telecom's existing transmission core network, based on Alcatel's Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) systems. This expansion provides Portugal Telecom with the necessary bandwidth capacity and feature-rich base to rapidly deploy the new broadband services demanded by the Portuguese market. The 32-channel DWDM system supplied - part of Alcatel's Optinex family of top-class transmission products - can operate up to 10 Gbit/s and is equipped with Forward Error Correction technology that enables Portugal Telecom to substantially optimize its network operating costs. The DWDM link is managed by the same Alcatel's integrated management platform already deployed by Portugal Telecom to manage and supervise the SDH core backbone network. "The Lisbon-Oporto project is key for Portugal Telecom (PT-Com)," said Carlos Costa, PT-Com Board member for Network Infrastructure. "It will enhance the capacity and robustness of our network, which are vital to the provision of multimedia communications. Alcatel's solutions will allow us to steadily augment the system as the traffic grows and to offer advanced and fast transmittable services with the quality our customers require." "This new backbone typifies Portugal Telecom's trend to go through a diversification business process and create a wider service environment, " said Jean-Marie Vansteenkiste, president of Alcatel's terrestrial networks activities. "We are pleased that Portugal Telecom renewed its confidence in Alcatel's solutions to further position itself as the avant-garde of technological innovation." About Portugal Telecom Portugal Telecom provides telecommunications and multimedia services in Portugal, Brazil and other international growth markets. Portugal Telecom's service offering covers a full range of mobile services, multimedia services (such as pay TV, Internet access, portal and e-commerce services), data and business solutions (such as data communications, business-to-business e-commerce and data and networking solutions), and wireline telephone services for retail and wholesale customers. In a liberalized domestic market, Portugal Telecom maintains its leadership with estimated market shares of 98% in the fixed telephone service, 70% in data, 50% in mobile, around 90% in cable TV and 40% in Internet. Internationally, PT is present in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa. About Alcatel Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 130,000 employees and sales of EURO 31 billion in 2000, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, please visit Alcatel's Web site at www.alcatel.com CONTACT: Alcatel Press: Jamie Horton, Tel: + 707-792-7843 Jamie.horton@usa.alcatel.com

To: Steve Fancy who wrote (3217)	4/24/2001 4:57:25 PM
From: zbyslaw owczarczyk	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3891

360networks confirms compliance with all bank covenants All figures in U.S. dollars VANCOUVER, April 24 /PRNewswire/ - 360networks today confirmed it is in full compliance with all covenants under the company's $1.2 billion senior secured credit facility. At the end of 2000, $350 million had been drawn under this facility. 360networks is currently drawing on the balance, as needed, to complete the development of a global fiber optic network. In response to a number of investor inquiries, 360networks also confirmed it intends to meet interest payments under its debt obligations. ``As a result of cash on hand, sales contracts with customers and credit facilities available to us, we are comfortable that we can meet such obligations,'' said Vanessa Wittman, chief financial officer of 360networks. ``We recognize that these are difficult markets for all of us, but 360networks has always met its debt obligations and we are taking appropriate internal measures to ensure this will not change going forward.'' In the first quarter of this year, 360networks completed sales totaling more than $475 million to major carriers and network service providers for services on its terrestrial and undersea networks. In addition, more than 50% of 360networks' global network is now in commercial service, including: - 360atlantic, a transatlantic undersea cable linking the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland - Approximately 90% of its 43,000-kilometer (26,700-mile) North American network connecting more than 50 major cities in the United States and Canada - Nearly 40% of its European network, which will link 11 countries in Europe by early 2002 - More than 60% of 360americas, an undersea and terrestrial network connecting the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Bermuda About 360networks 360networks (NASDAQ: TSIX and TSE: TSX) offers network services to telecommunications and data-centric organizations. 360networks is developing one of the largest and most technologically advanced fiber optic mesh networks in the world. By mid-2002, the planned network will span 143,000 kilometers (89,000 miles), and link more than 100 major cities with terrestrial routes and undersea cable systems joining North America, Europe, South America and Asia. 360networks is also developing metropolitan networks in 35 cities worldwide. More information is available at www.360.net. Forward looking statements: This document may contain statements about expected future events and financial results that are forward looking in nature, and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including general economic and business conditions, and specific conditions affecting our sector, including pricing pressures and declining prices; our ability to access capital markets to ensure financial liquidity; competition; the inability to attract and retain our anticipated customer base; existing government regulations and changes in, or the failure to comply with, government regulations or obtain required permits or licenses; changes in business strategy or development plans; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; and other factors. Actual results may differ materially from those projected by management. For such statements, we claim the safe harbor for ``forward looking statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. SOURCE: 360networks Inc.