Pacific Bell Internet Services Forms Agreement With NorthPoint Communications to Offer Internet Access Over DSL - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Oct 25, 1999

NorthPoint Communications and Pacific Bell Internet Services Tuesday announced an agreement that will make DSL-based Internet access available to more consumers and small businesses within Pacific Bell territory.

NorthPoint will deliver its IDSL service offering to Pacific Bell Internet Services in its California territory. IDSL, offering connections to the Internet at speeds up to 144 kbps, is a solution for consumers, telecommuters and small businesses who are currently located more than 17,500 feet from the location housing the phone company's ADSL equipment. The agreement enables Pacific Bell Internet Services to immediately extend its high-speed offerings in California while SBC Communications' Project Pronto is deployed.

Pacific Bell Internet Services will begin offering its Internet access services over IDSL immediately.

"The agreement between NorthPoint and Pacific Bell Internet Services is a strong sign of dramatic changes taking place in the communications industry, where competitive and incumbent local exchange carriers can work together for the benefit of consumers and businesses," said Michael Malaga, NorthPoint's chairman and CEO.

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.

Pacific Bell Internet is a company of SBC Communications Inc.

In the United States, the company currently has 59 million access lines, 10.1 million wireless customers and is undertaking a national expansion program that will bring SBC service to an additional 30 markets. Internationally, SBC has telecommunications investments in 22 countries. With more than 200,000 employees, SBC is the 14th largest employer in the U.S., with annual revenues that rank it among the largest Fortune 500 companies.