ITC DeltaCom Joins as Internet2 Corporate Partner; Demonstrating Commitment to Technology and Higher Education

Business Wire, Jan 20, 1999

WEST POINT, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 1999--ITC DeltaCom (Nasdaq/NM:ITCD) today announced it has committed over $1 million in services and support to advanced networking development as an Internet2 Corporate Partner as designated by the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID), which is leading the Internet2 project.

The designation recognizes ITC DeltaCom's commitment of fiber optic network resources to the development of advanced research and education networking.

The Corporate Partner designation is the highest level of commercial collaboration within the Internet2 project. Corporate Partnership recognizes ITC DeltaCom's commitment to work throughout its 10-state southeastern network geography to enable the activities of over 130 Internet2 universities nationwide.

"We welcome ITC DeltaCom's commitment to collaborate with Internet2 universities in developing advanced networking capabilities for research and education," said Douglas Van Houweling, President and CEO of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID), which is leading the Internet2 project. "These kinds of partnerships will accelerate the deployment of the next generation network technologies that will benefit the global Internet community."

"We are very pleased to bring a project of this importance and national scope to the Southeast. Opening our network to the Internet2 project will provide important opportunities to universities throughout our region," said Drew Walker, ITC DeltaCom Vice Chairman and CEO. "We believe this is an important milestone for the growth and development of the Internet2 project."

The Internet2 project is building on the tremendous success of the last 10 years in networking research and development by adapting new, broadband Internet technology to academic needs. Internet2 is joining the university community together with government and industry partners to facilitate the development of advanced network applications for research and education.

As a Corporate Partner, ITC DeltaCom supports the project by engaging in Internet2 activities related to applications, network services and other development efforts at the campus, regional and national levels. ITC DeltaCom has already "partnered" with The University of Alabama System to provide the interconnection from the Gulf South GigaPoP at the University of Alabama in Birmingham to the very high performance Backbone Network Service (vBNS) and Abilene network gateways at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Ga.

Internet2 universities, working with industry, government and other research and education networking organizations, are addressing the major challenges facing the next generation of university networks by creating and sustaining a leading edge network capability for the national research community and directing network development efforts to enable a new generation of applications to fully exploit the capabilities of broadband networks. A primary goal of Internet2 is to help ensure the rapid transfer of new network services and applications to all levels of educational use and to the broader Internet community, both nationally and internationally.

About Internet2

The Internet2 project is being led by over 130 leading U.S. universities, working with industry and government, to enable and facilitate the advanced network applications necessary to meet emerging needs in higher education. Internet2 participants are developing the broadband applications, engineering and network management tools for research and education. For more information on Internet2, a project of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID), please see http://www.internet2.edu.

About ITC DeltaCom Inc.

ITC DeltaCom Inc., headquartered in West Point, Ga., provides integrated telecommunications services to mid-sized and major regional businesses in the southern United States, and is a leading regional provider of wholesale long-haul services to other communications companies. The company's business communication services include local exchange service, long distance, enhanced data, Internet, operator services, and the sale and maintenance of customer premise equipment. The company operates 22 branch locations in eight states, and its 10-state, approximately 7,000 mile fiber optic network reaches more than 70 points of presence.

ITC DeltaCom is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market's National Market under the symbol of ITCD and can be found on the Internet at www.itcdeltacom.com.

This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents filed by ITC DeltaCom with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the most recent reports which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including dependence on new product development, rapid technological and market change, failure to complete the network on schedule, volatility of stock price, risks related to the Year 2000 issue, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.