Look Communications Selects Bridgewater Systems' WideSpan Solution to Rapidly Integrate ISPs and Launch Profitable New Services

Business Wire, July 11, 2000

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

KANATA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 11, 2000

Bridgewater Systems Corporation, a global supplier of policy-driven access and IP services management software, today announced that Look Communications Inc. (CDNX:LKC) has selected its WideSpan(TM) solution to optimize its continued expansion and introduction of IP services.

The WideSpan system, a market-ready Internet business solution, provides Look with the infrastructure needed to effectively manage its explosive subscriber growth by rapidly and seamlessly integrating new ISPs and launching profitable new services at Internet speed.

"Given the growth Look is experiencing, we need a multi-access, multi-vendor software solution to effectively create and manage the range of hot new access and IP services," said David Parkes, President and CEO, Look Communications Inc. "The WideSpan solution is part of our ISP acquisition strategy and gives us the scalable, policy management networking framework we need to support our subscriber growth - in terms of both size of customer base and sophistication of service offerings."

Bridgewater Systems' WideSpan solution, installed across Look's network, enables both companies to offer differentiated QoS (Quality of Service) based on subscriber service profiles from a single point of streamlined administration. The open API architecture gives Look the flexibility to offer customers different classes of enhanced IP services, including IP-VPN (virtual private network) capabilities.

In addition, the WideSpan system works with a range of external servers through industry standard interfaces such as RADIUS, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), or through Bridgewater Systems' enhanced WideSpan Application Interface.

This policy-management solution supports high-performance authentication, authorization and accounting services for over ten million subscribers. And, because it is a scalable, end-to-end solution that is based on a common policy management framework and open system architecture, Look will be able to use the WideSpan solution for future systems integration and the introduction of new services.

"Look Communications is a model for much of what is going on in the ISP industry today. It is growing quickly, both organically and through acquisitions and requires an integrated solution that simplifies what otherwise would be a very complex networking environment," said Doug Somers, President and CEO of Bridgewater Systems. "We are committed to helping progressive ISPs gain a real competitive edge, with a flexible, cost-effective solution that enables them to rapidly integrate ISPs and focus on their core business -- delivering premium quality, personalized services to their customers".

About Bridgewater Systems

Bridgewater Systems works with progressive service providers to deliver integrated policy-driven software systems for IP service networks. Its mission is to be the leader and catalyst for a new class of IP services - those which are customer-focused and tailored to meet the diverse needs of individual users and businesses alike.

Bridgewater's Internet business solution enables network, service and application providers to build, manage and capitalize on the explosive growth of IP services, from retail and wholesale Internet access through to VPNs, hosting, multimedia applications, and converged IP/PSTN services. Website: www.bridgewatersystems.com.

About Look Communications Inc.

Look Communications Inc. (CDNX:LKC) is a leading wireless broadband carrier, delivering a full spectrum of communications services including digital television distribution, high speed Internet access and Web-related services. Through its advanced MDS technology (Multipoint Distribution System), Look provides superior, digital entertainment services to homes across Quebec and Ontario.

Look's Internet service, formerly known as Internet Direct, is available throughout Canada and has established itself as one of Canada's largest independent service providers offering both high speed and dial-up Internet access, in addition to other Web-based applications.

Look Communications is a Canadian company whose principal shareholders are Telesystem Ltd., Teleglobe Inc., Covington Wireless Communications (Ontario) Ltd. and GTC Transcontinental Group Ltd. The company is listed on the Canadian Venture Exchange under the symbol LKC.

The corporate information contained in this release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Look that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable by Look at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. The actual results achieved will vary from the information provided herein and the variations may be material. Consequently, there is no representation by Look that actual results achieved will be the same in whole or in part as those forecast.