PSINet ADDS 50,000 HIGH-SPEED ASCEND MODEMS
Ascend Communications MAX TNT Modems to Support ISDN and 56K PSINet Internet Connections throughout North America and Europe
HERNDON, VA, March 31, 1998, (NASDAQ: PSIX) -- PSINet Inc. announced today that it has purchased 50,000 MAX TNT modems from Ascend Communications (NASDAQ: ASND), to be deployed primarily in its existing points-of-presence (POPs) in Canada, United States, and across Europe. All modems support both ISDN and 56K standard connections and will be deployed throughout the PSINet Internet-optimized network during the next two quarters. "Demand for PSINet dialup services in Europe is extraordinary," said Volker Kleinn, president and chief executive officer of PSINet Europe, based in Switzerland. "Commercial connections in the UK and Germany, where PSINet has 100% country-wide coverage with a local calling number, has never been stronger." Kleinn is responsible for operating subsidiaries in seven European countries, all of which will add more ascend modems. "The demand in the United States and Canada by our commercial customers for dial-up access continues to grow across all sectors of our business," said Jack Chidester, PSINet's senior vice president for US sales and marketing. Chidester is responsible for all three US-based product divisions: Corporate Network Services, Carrier and ISP Services, and Web and Application Services. "The widest demand for our high-speed modems is in our Carrier and ISP Services group, which supports U.S. domestic ISPs serving hundreds of thousands of consumer users."
Most of the MAX TNTs will be deployed in large metropolitan areas where competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) continue to provide relatively easy access to circuits for PSINet's large ISDN modem banks. "Our most successful ISP and Carrier customers include EarthLink Networks (NASDAQ: ELNK), WebTV, a unit of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and IXC Communications," said John Kraft, vice president for the Carrier and ISP Services business unit.
"We continue to add circuits and modems to actively support these demanding and successful customers. Our goal is to facilitate connectivity and access to our high-throughput OC-48 backbone in a cost-effective manner so these customers can sustain manageable growth within their businesses," Kraft added. Combining PSINet's Internet expertise and OC-48 resources with existing CLEC metropolitan access capabilities presents a unique alternative to standard leased services for PSINet Carrier and ISP customers. An essential part of PSINet's business is to manage timely modem deployment. The Ascend agreement is an integral part of the overall strategy.
Fundamental to PSINet's delivery of industry-leading wholesale Carrier and ISP Services is flexibility. PSINet offers the widest array of value-added features such as:
The only ISP purely focused on an IP-optimized data network
Access to over 230 POPs in the US (85% coverage of the continental U.S.)
Full-time network management and monitoring that allows customers to focus on attracting and retaining customers, service enhancements, and general business management
Flat-rate analog pricing
Complete access and authentication data giving carrier and ISP customers manageable information to create reports, invoices requirements and other information important for marketing and finance
Over 4000 ISPs are currently operating in the United States. The vast majority of these organizations are small or medium-sized operations that have established local or regional market-share because of familiarity with geographical or line-of-business Internet needs. PSINet continues to employ the most comprehensive aggregation of leading-edge connectivity technologies, robust network development/management, and value added customer service to meet the dynamic needs of wholesale customers.
About PSINet Inc.
PSINet (NASDAQ: PSIX) is a global facilities-based Internet Protocol (IP) data communications carrier focused on the business marketplace. As the first and largest independent commercial Internet service provider in the world, PSINet offers a broad set of high-speed corporate LAN connectivity services supporting managed security and guaranteed Internet, intranet, electronic commerce, Web hosting services, and services for other carriers and ISPs. PSINet operates an international state-of-the-art frame relay-based, IP-optimized network connecting to ISDN, ATM, SMDS, and wireless/satellite systems, serving over 33,000 corporations with over 400 points of presence extending to 10 countries.
Headquartered in Herndon, VA, PSINet has subsidiaries in Canada, Japan, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK. For more information, media representatives can contact Michael Binko, APR at PSINet by telephone at 703-904-4100, or via e-mail at binkom@psi.com. General company information can be obtained by e-mail at info@psi.com, or by accessing the Web site at htpt://www.psi.net.
About Ascend Communications, Inc.
Ascend Communications, Inc. develops, manufactures, sells and services wide area networking solutions for telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and corporate customers worldwide. For more information about Ascend and its products, please visit the Ascend web site at www.ascend.com, or e-mail info@ascend.com.
Ascend is headquartered at One Ascend Plaza
1701 Harbor Bay Parkway
Alameda, California 94502
Phone: 800/ASCEND4
Fax: 510/814-2300
E-mail: info@ascend.com
Contact:
Eric Warren
Ascend Communications
(510) 747-6683
eric.warren@ascend.com |
