Qwest Communications to Deploy Spirent Communications Technology for DSL Service Assurance

Business Wire, April 9, 2001

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2001

Spirent Communications, a leading provider of systems to enable next-generation network performance, today announced a multi-year agreement with Qwest Communications International Inc.

Qwest will deploy a combination of hardware and software service assurance solutions from Spirent's Hekimian business unit to ensure quality DSL services across Qwest's entire 14-state territory.

Spirent's solution, TestDSL(TM), encompasses the entire DSL service and will help Qwest instantly assess the complete, end-to-end status of its network. With Spirent's solution, Qwest can monitor the quality of its DSL service, and ensure quick customer responsiveness and fault resolution.

With the market coverage and line counts involved in this and other recent agreements, Spirent Communications' solutions now cover more qualifying lines and markets than all other service assurance hardware and software solutions combined, making Spirent the de facto standard for service assurance in the vast majority of North American DSL installations.

"Qwest is experiencing tremendous demand for its DSL service," said Augie Cruciotti, executive vice president of local networks for Qwest. "Spirent Communications offered Qwest a comprehensive package of products to improve its network performance, along with a proven track record in the industry of being able to provide large-scale service assurance for companies with millions of customers nationwide."

"Spirent's TestDSL approach gives Qwest the flexibility to meet its aggressive strategy for expanding availability of advanced services, while still realizing critical business productivity goals," said Des Wilson, president of Spirent Communications' network monitoring division. "This agreement is yet more proof of our position as North America's DSL service assurance standard."

TestDSL hardware and software components that Qwest will employ include:

-- Central Office and remote terminal-based test probes and test access, using
Spirent's CopperMax(TM) hardware portfolio

-- OSS software for remote end-to-end DSL service testing, using Spirent's
industry-leading REACT 2001(TM) operations support system

-- Professional services to manage the delivery and implementation of the
solution in operations centers, central offices and remote terminals across
Qwest's territory

About Spirent Communications

Spirent Communications unites the best in performance analysis technology with network operations expertise. Our solutions enable customers to accelerate the development, deployment and assurance of next-generation network equipment and services worldwide.

Spirent Communications designs and manufactures Adtech, DLS, Edgcumbe, GSS, Hekimian, Net-HOPPER, SmartBits, TAS and Zarak products.

More than 2,500 of the world's leading network and terminal equipment manufacturers, network service providers, corporate enterprises and test laboratories rely on our first-to-market products to verify and measure the performance and services of networks and communications devices.

Spirent plc is the parent of Spirent Communications. Spirent plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange, ticker SPT. The company operates a Level 1 American Depository Receipt programme (ticker: SPNUY; CUSIP number: 84856M100).

For information, contact Brian Heston, The Bank of New York, American Depositary Receipts, 101 Barclay St, 22 West, New York, NY 10286 Phone: (212) 815 3938, Fax: (212) 571 3050, email: bheston@bankofny.com www.adrbny.com.