Alcatel Unveils New Customer Network Operations Center in Dallas; Pac-West Telecomm Signed as First Customer - Company Operations

Cambridge Telcom Report, April 17, 2000

Responding to the demand for total network solutions in the U.S., Alcatel Wednesday announced it has opened a new, state-of-the-art Customer Network Operations Center (CNOC) in Dallas, and has signed an agreement with Pac-West Telecomm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PACW), a rapidly growing provider of integrated telecommunications services, to be the first customer to receive network support services through the new facility.

Alcatel's CNOC provides a broad range of proactive network surveillance and monitoring services that maximize network efficiency and reduce service interruptions for its customers in the Americas. With its futuristic design and innovative technologies, the CNOC, which is equipped with back-up power capability, monitors detailed information on the status of various customer switches, transport facilities, access equipment and data around the world, via a redundant, fiber optic SONET ring. In addition, Alcatel offers network analysis, consulting, traffic engineering, call processing translations, remote dispatch and on-site maintenance services to customers.

As part of the agreement with Pac-West, Alcatel monitors Pac-West's main transmission network, which is comprised primarily of Alcatel equipment. The elements of Pac-West's network that are monitored by Alcatel's CNOC provide service to more than 100,000 customers in California, Nevada and Washington.

"The need for total network solutions, including everything from equipment to high-level support services, is expanding rapidly here in the U.S. and the Americas," said Krish Prabhu, chief executive officer, Alcatel USA, and chief operating officer, Alcatel Telecom. "The CNOC provides customers, like Pac-West, with the network operations services that they need to ensure network reliability 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while allowing them to focus on their core business."

According to Jason Mills, Pac-West's vice president of network operations, "Pac-West is rapidly expanding, and expects to have operations in ten western states by the end of 2000. This agreement with Alcatel to provide network support services through its CNOC facility plays a key role in our expansion efforts."

Founded in 1980, Pac-West Telecomm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PACW) is a rapidly growing provider of integrated telecommunications services to Internet service providers (ISPs) and small and medium businesses. With operations currently in California, Nevada and Washington, Pac-West is expanding throughout the western U.S. and expects to have operations in ten western states by the end of 2000.

Pac-West supplies Internet infrastructure services to over 100 ISPs that can either collocate and maintain their own equipment at Pac-West's switching facilities, or subscribe to an integrated managed modem service that includes access lines, modems, routers, authentication services, and technical support. For its small and medium business customers, Pac-West offers an integrated voice and data communications service that bundles local and long distance service with telephone equipment, high-speed data transport, voice mail, and maintenance. More information about the company is available at www.pacwest.com.

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 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 23 billion in 1999, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com