WilTel and Mitsubishi join forces to create new Pacific Rim Frame Relay Network NNI connection

TULSA, Okla. (April 18, 1995)-- WilTel International Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of LDDS Communications Inc., has signed an agreement with Mitsubishi Electric Information Network Corporation (MIND) to establish a new Japan-to-U.S. international public frame relay network connection.

The Japanese frame relay service (MIND-FR) has been developed by MIND in response to the rise in domestic Japanese high-speed data transmission needs, specifically focused on LAN connections. Applications include CAD transmissions, e-mail, file transfer (data / software), and the supply of information from the World Wide Web server. The MIND-FR product features low-speed committed information rate (CIR from 8 Kbps to a maximum of 1.0 Mbps) among its service offerings. This enhances potential benefits for customers with lower data transmission volumes in regard to both pricing and network transmission speed. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to cooperate with WilTel in delivering MIND frame relay customers international telecommunications network capabilities," said Y. Yonezawa, president of MIND.

WilTel has signed a non-exclusive Network to Network Interface (NNI) agreement with MIND that will provide domestic Japanese MIND-FR customers U.S. and international frame relay connectivity from its Tokyo node. WilTel was recently presented a "Best of Show" award at the major telecommunications trade show of the spring season in the U.S. (Interop + NetWorld) for its domestic WilPak Wide Area Network (WAN) NNI service offerings. WilPak is WilTel's public data service utilizing frame- and cell-relay technology.

WilPak accommodates multi-protocol, multi-vendor data environments and provides a single physical interface into the network to support multiple remote locations through the dynamic allocation of capacity. WilTel offers international WilPak service to global destinations from Germany to Hong Kong "WilTel is pleased to offer MIND frame relay customers U.S. and global connectivity from our Tokyo switch," said Rick Gibbens, director of WilTel International. "We have built a premiere telecommunications service reputation in the U.S. and throughout the world, and we are committed to offering the benefits of our excellent service record to our valued customers."

WilPak, the industry's first public fast-packet frame relay service, is now offered in six countries outside of the United States and expansion into other international markets continues at a rapid pace. WilTel recently announced WilNet private line service availability to more than 40 countries worldwide and was one of the first interexchange carriers to offer direct dial telecommunications service to Cuba.

WilTel is a full-service telecommunications company that offers domestic and international data, voice and video products to carriers and large business customers. WilTel operates a nationwide digital fiber-optic network for its parent company, LDDS, which is one of the four largest U.S.-based long-distance carriers. The shares of LDDS Communications Inc., trade on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol LDDS.