US LEC Adds Juniper Networks and Lucent Technologies Solutions for Next-Generation Voice and Data Network Delivery

Business Wire, June 21, 2004

MURRAY HILL, N.J. & SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Lucent Technologies (NYSE:LU) and Juniper Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:JNPR) today announced that US LEC Corporation (NASDAQ:CLEC), a telecommunications carrier providing integrated voice, data and Internet services to businesses throughout the Eastern United States, has expanded the use of Juniper Networks routing platform to support its tremendous growth and to help deliver new next generation services.

In addition to their existing Juniper Networks M-series routing platforms and Lucent CBX 500(R) Multiservice WAN switches, US LEC has deployed Juniper Networks E-series routers in select locations as a multiservice edge platform to support ATM, Frame Relay and IP Services. US LEC offers ATM, Frame Relay, Multi-Link Frame Relay, IP services including MLPPP, packet over SONET, and support of Voice over IP, all using best-in-class equipment.

"Flexibility to meet increasing customer bandwidth needs and delivery protocols, coupled with a high availability backbone are essential as we continue to rapidly grow our customer base," said Alan Fitzpatrick, senior vice president of engineering for US LEC. "The partnership of Lucent and Juniper Networks provides a roadmap to build a common infrastructure to meet these needs. The partnership also promises the ability to improve operational management of the data network through use of a common provisioning and management system."

"We're pleased to announce US LEC as a joint customer with Lucent," said Kurt Melden, chief scientist, Juniper Networks. "The strategic relationship between our two companies continues to enable customers to transform their networks to create and IP/MPLS-based infrastructure capable of delivering revenue-generating services with next-generation capabilities. This type of infrastructure is a key requirement for providers seeking to evolve today's networks to Infranets so that they can support tomorrow's advanced applications."

"The Lucent Juniper Networks partnership is proving that customers benefit from our joint solutions today, and we believe our joint development will continue to differentiate our offers from the competition in the future," said Mike Nielsen, president, Lucent Technologies Multiservice Switching.

Leveraging the companies' combined expertise in networking, the Lucent and Juniper Networks partnership delivers market-ready solutions through a strong joint development program which recently produced the ability to manage Juniper Networks routing platforms under the familiar Lucent NAVIS(R) iOperations Software suite currently used by Lucent customers to manage their multiservice switches. Lucent and Juniper Networks also are collaborating on other joint developments to enable service providers to transform their networks smoothly and profitably.

About US LEC

Based in Charlotte, NC, US LEC is a leading telecommunications carrier providing integrated voice, data and Internet services to medium and large businesses and enterprise organizations throughout 15 Eastern states and the District of Columbia. US LEC services include local and long distance calling services, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, advanced data services such as Frame Relay, Multi-Link Frame Relay and ATM, dedicated and dial-up Internet services, managed data solutions, data center services and Web hosting. US LEC also provides selected voice services in 25 additional states and selected data services nationwide. For more information about US LEC, visit www.uslec.com.

About Juniper Networks

Juniper Networks transforms the business of networking by converting a commodity -- bandwidth -- into a dependable, secure and highly valuable corporate asset. Founded in 1996 to meet the stringent demands of service providers, Juniper Networks is now relied upon by the world's leading network operators, government agencies, research and education institutions, and information-intensive enterprises as the foundation for uncompromising networks. The Infranet Initiative uses Juniper Networks MINT (Model for InfraNet Transformation) as its underlying framework. Juniper Networks is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. Additional information can be found at www.juniper.net.

About Lucent Technologies

Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and delivers networks for the world's largest communications service providers. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent relies on its strengths in mobility, optical, data and voice networking technologies as well as software and services to develop next-generation networks. The company's systems, services and software are designed to help customers quickly deploy and better manage their networks and create new revenue-generating services that help businesses and consumers. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit its Web site at http://www.lucent.com.

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