EarthLink Reaches 100,000 Broadband Customer Milestone; Leading ISP Doubles Its Broadband Customer Base Since April

Business Wire, August 21, 2000

Business Editors & Internet Writers

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2000

EarthLink (NASDAQ:ELNK) today announced it has reached the 100,000-broadband-customer milestone, doubling its broadband customer base since April 2000.

The milestone firmly establishes EarthLink as a leading provider of broadband Internet services.

Since the first quarter of this year, EarthLink's nationwide broadband footprint has increased more than 250 percent to more than 60 markets. This increased market presence, combined with an expansion of EarthLink DSL self-install for new customers and waived DSL setup costs, has fueled EarthLink's strong broadband growth.

"Our customer-centric approach continues to pay dividends for us," said Mike Lunsford, executive vice president of broadband services at EarthLink. "To this end, we've greatly increased the availability of our DSL self-installs to help get customers connected faster, we've made firewall software available to all of our broadband customers to ensure their online safety, and we've significantly reduced the cost of connecting via DSL."

EarthLink recently announced the expansion of its self-install program, which can cut provisioning times in half by reducing the need for truck rolls and service calls. In addition, EarthLink recently introduced the industry's first cross-platform nationwide broadband security solution, now available to all EarthLink DSL customers. EarthLink also provides its customers with dedicated, award-winning customer support, available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

Earlier this month, the company launched a print and radio advertising campaign promoting availability of its self-install DSL offering in nine major markets. The ad campaign marked the first major marketing initiative for EarthLink Broadband outside of the company's existing member base.

EarthLink DSL is currently available in more than 60 major metropolitan markets through more than 2,650 Central Offices (COs). Also offering cable Internet access in nine areas nationwide, EarthLink is one of the only national ISPs that offers its members multiple broadband access options. Its commitment to offer high-speed DSL, cable Internet access, and other broadband technologies, and use of multiple broadband vendors, means EarthLink can offer its high-speed services to members in more areas of the country.

About EarthLink

EarthLink is one of the world's leading Internet service providers, bringing the magic of the Internet to approximately 3.7 million individuals and businesses every day.

In June 2000, the company announced plans to acquire Reston, Va.-based OneMain.com, a move that will extend EarthLink's host of award-winning services into rural America and smaller metropolitan areas across the United States.

With headquarters in Atlanta, EarthLink provides a full range of innovative access, hosting and e-commerce solutions to thousands of communities internationally from more than 5,000 points of presence. EarthLink is committed to doing an exceptional job of pleasing its customers, shareholders and the community by following the company's Core Values and Beliefs.

Information about EarthLink and EarthLink Sprint services is available by calling 800/395-8425 and through EarthLink's Web site at www.earthlink.net.