Cable & Wireless Launches DSL Service; Service Provides Critical Last Mile, High Speed Connection to the Internet for Businesses - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Oct 11, 1999

Cable & Wireless, a leading global provider of Internet, data, voice and messaging solutions, Wednesday announced the availability of its digital subscriber line (DSL) services in the United States.

Cable & Wireless premium quality SDSL Internet Access Service provides businesses with always-on Internet connectivity over standard telephone lines at speeds up to 1040 Kbps, at an economical monthly price.

Cable & Wireless' DSL Service will be available in 15 metropolitan areas in the United States by the end of the year and will expand to more than 30 metropolitan areas by mid 2000. In April 1999, Cable & Wireless announced a strategic partnership with NorthPoint Communications (Nasdaq: NPNT) as its preferred provider of DSL service.

"DSL gives small and medium-sized businesses an affordable high speed on-ramp to the Internet," said Art Medici, senior vice president of Marketing of Cable & Wireless.

"With Cable & Wireless' DSL Service, customers can take advantage of high speed Internet connections to utilize more bandwidth intensive applications. Our DSL service also gives customers connectivity to the Internet through our network backbone, which is one of the fastest and largest networks in the world."

"NorthPoint and Cable & Wireless are an ideal strategic fit," said Whitey Bluestein, NorthPoint's chief development officer.

"Cable & Wireless' strong focus on the small and midsize business market combined with NorthPoint's leading DSL network - deployed to more locations nationwide than any other provider - mean more businesses will benefit from advanced communications applications made possible by an affordable broadband connection to the Internet."

Cable & Wireless' DSL Service is the ideal high speed Internet access solution for small and medium-sized businesses, remote office locations, and telecommuters. With Cable & Wireless' DSL Service, customers can have access to the Internet at speeds ranging from 160Kbps to 1040 Kbps per second at competitive price points.

By design, Cable & Wireless offers a scalable DSL solution that can expand as customer bandwidth requirements grow, without the need for additional customer premise equipment.

Cable & Wireless DSL Service is a one-stop shop solution that simplifies the ordering and installation of DSL services. In addition to a range of DSL service options and always-on Internet connectivity, Cable & Wireless' DSL Service includes CPE configuration, installation and maintenance.

Cable & Wireless, through the relationship with NorthPoint, will manage the procurement of the customer's local loop connection so that there will be no need for interaction with their ILEC.

With customers in 70 countries, Cable & Wireless is a major global telecommunications business with revenue of around $13 billion in the year ended March 1999 and more than 50,000 employees. Its businesses around the world offer a range of services spanning broadband data and Internet access, fixed and mobile voice, as well as interactive entertainment and information.

Cable & Wireless' priority for expansion is the fast growing market of data and IP (Internet Protocol) services for business customers. Since November 1998, it has announced major investments in advanced networks in the US and Europe, the restructuring of Cable & Wireless Communications in the UK and has acquired full control of Cable & Wireless IDC in Japan to support this strategy.

Cable & Wireless now holds a unique position in terms of global coverage and services to business customers.

NorthPoint Communications, based in San Francisco, is a national, facilities-based competitive local exchange carrier dedicated to providing affordable, dedicated high-speed Internet access over existing phone lines using digital subscriber line (DSL) technology.

The company operates DSL-based local networks in 28 major markets, spanning 51 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). By early next year, NorthPoint's DSL network will pass 4 million businesses and 30 million homes.

NorthPoint provides DSL-based Internet access service -- at speeds up to 1.5 Mbps, more than 25 times faster than common dial-up modems -- through national and regional Internet service providers, CLECs, long distance carriers, value-added resellers and other partners. For additional information, visit www.northpointdsl.com.