Wednesday February 11, 2:01 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
USA Global Link Partners with 3COM On Its $1.2 Billion Internet Telephony Deployment
FAIRFIELD, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 11, 1998--USA Global Link, Inc., the world's largest provider of discount international telecommunications services, signed a letter of intent with 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS - news), to supply network infrastructure for its $1.2 billion worldwide Internet telephony system called Global InterNetwork(SM), a multi-pathway/multi-protocol global telecommunications network. 3Com is the premier manufacturer of carrier-class multi-service access platforms and VOIP-access solutions.
The proposed agreement encompasses a complete arrangement for 3Com to engineer, furnish and install facilities on a global basis. Installation of 3Com's Total Control(TM) multi-service platforms will begin this spring and continue with the planned installation of 500 switches over the next 3 years. Initial installation will begin in Brazil, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, the U.S., Switzerland and Hong Kong, with other countries in Europe, South America and the Asia-Pacific region to follow. Investment for this phase of the Global InterNetwork deployment will exceed $500 million.
''Last spring USA Global Link opened the floodgates on Internet telephony with the announcement of our Global InterNetwork system,'' said Christopher W. Hartnett, founder and chairman of the company. ''Partnering with 3Com is a cornerstone to the successful deployment of the most sophisticated and ubiquitous telecommunications network in the world. Our vision and 3Com's expertise form a powerful synergy for success.''
As the world's premier provider of alternative telecommunications services, USA Global Link has been deploying the Global InterNetwork system, an advanced network platform for the delivery of voice, data, fax, video and broadband multi-media services. Integral to the Global InterNetwork design and deployment has been the integration of IP pathways for voice and data services. Having researched the technology packages of all the leading developers of IP access and routing products, the company has adopted 3Com's Total Control VOIP system as the most flexible and advanced of the few carrier-class products available.
''It is critical to the company's Global InterNetwork strategy that any solutions adopted be carrier-class,'' says Gary Hamm, vice president of Global InterNetwork and chief technology officer. ''Early developments in VOIP products lacked the integration of features into an existing carrier environment. 3Com's products meet our requirements in a completely integrated technology package, making a new range of quality services possible, and allowing us to dramatically expand the envelope of telecom services worldwide. Also critical to the choice is 3Com's global expertise and support presence.''
The Global InterNetwork system is a complete global telecommunications network, which will ultimately encompass over 1000 points-of-presence (POPs) in all major metropolitan centers of the world, with a projected total capital investment of $1.2 billion. The company is actively searching for co-location and marketing partnership opportunities.
''We are extremely pleased to be partnering with USA Global Link, a company with the vision, resources and tenacity to pull off a scheme as impressive as Global InterNetwork,'' said Ross Manire, senior vice president of 3Com Carrier Systems. ''Our Total Control platform is a perfect fit with its picture of the global telecommunications network of the next century -- flexible, powerful and adaptable to changing and expanding market conditions.''
USA Global Link is the undisputed leader in alternative, innovative telecommunications strategies, such as: discount international long-distance, international callback, Global 800(SM) numbers, phone-to-phone Internet telephony and wholesale carrier least-cost routing services. USA Global Link also offers one of the world's largest corporate travel and prepaid calling card programs.
USA Global Link was recently cited as one of the world's 50 largest international carriers and one of the world's fastest growing telecom companies by CommunicationsWeek International and the Yankee Group in a joint survey published last December. USA Global Link provides service to more than 200 countries and territories around the world and is an active member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland, and the U.S. Department of State's International Telecommunication Advisory Council (ITAC). The company is headquartered in Fairfield, Iowa, U.S.A.
Note: Global InterNetwork is a registered service mark of USA Global Link, Inc.
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Contact:
USA Global Link, Inc.
Mark Petrick, +1-515/472-1550
Richard Brill, +1-847/251-5522
Web Site: usagl.com
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