MCI's Private IP Service Reaches New Heights And New Locations

MPLS-Based Service Triples Customer Base and Network Connections in 2004; Expands into China, India and the Middle East

MCI Adds New Access and Firewall Capabilities

ASHBURN, Va., JANUARY 4, 2005 - MCI, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCIP) today announced its fastest growing service, Private IP, is experiencing significant growth, tripling its number of customers and network connections in 2004, and expanding its reach into India, China and the Middle East. MCI is also adding new access to its MPLS-based VPN with satellite connectivity and offering new firewall capabilities with the service.

Ideal for carrying voice, video and data over one network, Private IP is helping companies like Wilson Sporting Goods, Euler Hermes ACI, Spirit Airlines, and Reynolds and Reynolds to manage and optimize their networks. For example, Wilson Sporting Goods utilizes Private IP to connect its offices around the globe to form its IP communications platform. Wilson's network allows the company to operate more efficiently and ensure its manufacturing plants receive information quickly and reliably.

"Companies today rely on networks as the lifeblood of their business," said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president, Product Management for MCI. "Private IP, with its advanced features and strong global reach, is proving to be an ideal networking platform for enterprises of all sizes to run IP applications, including converged voice, video and data."

Euler Hermes ACI, North America's leading credit insurer, is using Private IP to connect 28 offices worldwide and to provide the platform to run IP applications such as VoIP. As a result, Euler has been able to reduce operating costs and enhance its productivity.

"MCI's Private IP Service and VoIP are a powerful one-two combination," said David Kozlowski, vice president of Technical Engineering for Euler Hermes ACI. "With Private IP, Euler is achieving new operating efficiencies worldwide and greater flexibility so we can better focus on our number one priority, our customers."

Continuing to serve its customers' global requirements, MCI has introduced Private IP in high demand nations like India, China and Israel. Companies requiring secure private connections in these countries can now connect in multiple cities, creating a seamless global enterprise network managed by a single provider. In 2004, MCI also expanded into four new countries, including Taiwan, Poland, South Korea and the Czech Republic.

MCI's new Satellite connectivity option enables customers to connect in out-of-the-way locations reliably and securely. Ideal for business continuity purposes, MCI's satellite connections range in speed from 64 Kbps to 2 Mbps and are available in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

MCI's expanded access footprint will enable customers to connect to the Private IP network from more than 90 countries using a combination of access methods such as frame, ATM, IP, DSL and now satellite. What's more Private IP customers can connect remote users to corporate resources and the Internet through MCI's Secure Interworking Gateway.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Spirit Airlines, the largest privately-held airline in the U.S. and low-fare leader, has come to depend on MCI's expertise and know-how to monitor its network operations in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Mexico to ensure continuous availability 24x7. Using MCI's Managed Implementation services, Spirit Airlines is replacing its frame relay network with Private IP to connect its reservation centers, airport locations and corporate headquarters and support its corporate applications such as email and Web browsing.

"By moving to an IP network environment, Spirit Airlines will be able to enhance our business operations," said David Anderson, Chief Information Officer for Spirit Airlines. "MCI's Private IP enables all of our locations to talk to each other, while delivering the service level guarantees and Web-based reporting tools we were looking for to meet our stringent performance requirements."

To help companies open their Private IP networks to vendors, partners and suppliers securely, MCI is launching a new Managed Firewall service that gives customers an extra level of control. With MCI's Managed Firewall, third parties can only gain access to specific applications, residing within a company's private network environment. MCI's newest firewall service also can be used in an Intranet setting, enabling select work groups to access specific information, while restricting their access to other corporate data.

About MCI
MCI, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCIP) is a leading global communications provider, delivering innovative, cost-effective, advanced communications connectivity to businesses, governments and consumers. With the industry's most expansive global IP backbone, based on the number of company-owned points of presence, and wholly-owned data networks, MCI develops the converged communications products and services that are the foundation for commerce and communications in today's market. For more information, go to www.mci.com.