Covad Extends Its DSL Services to New Mexico; Albuquerque's Business and Residential Users Can Now Access the High-Speed Internet with Covad Communications' DSL Service

Business Wire, Jan 18, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2000

Covad Communications (Nasdaq:COVD), the leading national broadband services provider utilizing digital subscriber line (DSL) technology, today announced the availability of its DSL services in the Albuquerque and Los Alamos, New Mexico areas. The high-speed service will be available to both residential and business users.

DSL is a high-speed connection to the Internet that is always available so there is no need to dial in each time a user wants to browse the Internet. Covad's DSL also gives customers a dedicated and secure connection using the copper phone wires currently found in homes and businesses. Covad will provide customers with a service that is up to 50 times faster than 28.8K modem connections and 10 times faster than ISDN.

Covad's network will service approximately 75% of the homes and 85% of the businesses in the Albuquerque area. Initially Covad's DSL services will be provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) FirstWorld Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:ONXS) (www.FirstWorld.com), RMI.Net (Nasdaq:RMII) (www.RMI.net) and SPEAKEASY (www.SPEAKEASY.net).

Bob Grant, president and general manager for Covad's Western region, commented, "In the last few years, we've seen a significant increase in Internet usage in the Albuquerque and Los Alamos regions. Now Albuquerque businesses and consumers can rely on Covad's high-speed Internet access. With Covad's services, customers will have the ultra fast connections that will enable tomorrow's promise of media-rich applications."

Covad's TeleSpeed(R) service is a fast, affordable digital communications service connecting small to medium size businesses and home offices to the Internet at corporate network-level speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps.

TeleSurfer(SM) service provides residential users privacy, flexibility and reliability advantages over the services offered through cable companies. Unlike cable companies that use a shared line between neighbors, a connection through Covad is dedicated to a single user through a point-to-point network.

About Covad

Covad is the leading national broadband services provider of high-speed Internet and network access utilizing Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology. It offers DSL services through Internet Service Providers, telecommunications carriers, enterprises, PC OEMs and ASPs to small and medium-sized businesses and home users. Covad services are currently available across the United States in 57 of the top Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and are expected to be available in 100 MSAs by the end of 2000. At that time, Covad's network will reach more than 40 percent of all US homes and 45 percent of all US businesses. Covad Communications and its affiliates, doing businesses as Covad Communications Company, are wholly owned subsidiaries of Covad Communications Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:COVD). Corporate headquarters is located at 2330 Central Expressway, Santa Clara, CA. 95050. Telephone: 1-888-GO-COVAD. Web Site: www.covad.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation

Reform Act of 1995

The Statements contained in this release which are not historical facts may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the intention to deploy our network in new and existing MSAs and the timing and breadth of coverage in each MSA, and our ability to provide high-quality multimedia content. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the company's dependence on incumbent local exchange carriers for collocation, unbundled network elements, transport and other facilities, development of necessary technologies and operations, ability to manage growth of our operations, and the need to raise additional capital. For other risks and uncertainties applicable to our business refer to the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.