ITC^Deltacom expands relationship with Ericsson

ITC^Deltacom expands relationship with Ericsson - Next generation carrier chooses ERION DWDM to expand Optical Network in southern U.S. ITC^DeltaCom, Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS: ITCD), a leading integrated telecommunications provider based in the southern United States, and Ericsson, the worldwide leader in mobile Internet, announced today that ITC^DeltaCom has purchased an additional $1.3 million of Ericsson's ERION Linear DWDM (Dense Wave Division Multiplexing) equipment for its Texas fiber optic network, which provides converged voice and data services to business customers in the southern United States. "We have been very pleased with Ericsson's ability to meet our timetables while remaining flexible to our changing needs," said Steve Moses, senior vice president of Network Services for ITC^DeltaCom. "The scalability and ease of implementation of the ERION products enables us to easily and cost-effectively provide our customers with advanced integrated broadband services." ITC^DeltaCom, which offers bundled services including local exchange services, long distance, data, Internet access, and telephone/data systems sales and equipment, started its fiber network over eight years ago. Today, the company's network spans approximately 8,530 miles in ten southern states across America and connects over 115 points of presence (POPs). "The rapid growth ITC^DeltaCom has experienced is evidence of how hot the broadband market is," said Mike Thurk, senior vice president of Ericsson's Data Backbone and Optical Networks division. "Ericsson is positioned to quickly meet customer demands with a total package approach, including design assistance, local support and flexible network management solutions that integrate end-to-end systems for converged networks." The ERION-based network will span seven major Texas cities and stretch over 740 miles from Dallas to San Antonio to Houston. It will initially carry SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) traffic over DWDM and will allow ITC^DeltaCom to later migrate IP and ATM traffic directly over DWDM, allowing more efficient throughput all through the network. Ericsson's ERION equipment allows quick and easy additions and changes, so this migration can be done smoothly as ITC^DeltaCom's needs evolve. Ericsson offers a full range of transport network solutions for established and new network operators. More than 500 ERION systems are installed throughout the world for applications including IP, CATV, Gigabit Ethernet and SDH/SONET. ERION, Ericsson's intelligent optical networking portfolio, provides a flexible, scalable and secure solution to the problems of increasing demand for bandwidth in long haul metropolitan core and access transport network architectures. Ericsson will be exhibiting its ERION product line at this week's National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (NFOEC) in booth #863, and holding a discussion at the conference on Tuesday, Aug. 29, on Metro DWDM Applications. Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in mobility and Internet in creating the new era of Mobile Internet. Ericsson provides total solutions covering everything from systems and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over the world. Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/pressroom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Paula Angel-Jones, Director of Public Relations Ericsson Data Backbone and Optical Networks Phone: +1 781 505 6245: E-mail: paula.angel-jones@ericsson.com Moss Crosby, Vice President of Marketing, ITC^DeltaCom Phone: +1 256 382 3851; E-mail: mcrosby@itcdeltacom.com About ITC^DeltaCom, Inc. ITC^DeltaCom, headquartered in West Point, Georgia, provides integrated telecommunications services to mid-sized and major businesses in the southern United States and is a leading regional provider of wholesale long-haul services to other communications companies. ITC^DeltaCom's business communication services include local exchange service, long distance, enhanced data, Internet and operator services, and the sale and maintenance of customer premise equipment. The Company operates 35 branch locations in nine states and its 10-state, approximately 8,530-mile fiber optic network, reaches over 115 points of presence. ITC^DeltaCom has interconnection agreements with BellSouth, GTE, Sprint and SBC Communications for resale and access to unbundled network elements, and is a certified Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) in Arkansas, Texas and all nine BellSouth states. Additionally, ITC^DeltaCom offers collocation, web hosting, and managed services through e^deltacom, a division of ITC^DeltaCom. For additional information about ITC^DeltaCom, please visit the Company's website at www.itcdeltacom.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/08/30/20000830BIT00940/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/08/30/20000830BIT00940/bit0002.pdf