Ascend To Bundle Options of Its Popular Multiband Network Access Product
Line

Consolidates Features, and Simplifies Ordering and Installation of All
Multiband Plus and Multiband VSX Systems

ALAMEDA, CALIF., MAY 16, 1996 -- Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASND)
today announced a consolidation of the most popular features for its
entire family of Multiband Plus and Multiband VSX products. Multiband
systems combine inverse multiplexing with dynamic bandwidth management to
support videoconferencing, multimedia, and voice/data backup and overflow
applications in a single network access unit. By bundling these key
popular features into each basic model, Ascend is able to simplify the
ordering and installation of all Multiband systems, achieve price
reductions on certain units, and better serve its customers.

"Ascend is now bundling options that were once available separately in
every Multiband Plus and Multiband VSX system," commented Roger Boyce,
Ascend's general manager of multimedia access. "These changes, made
possible by clear trends in the marketplace, reduce the complexity of
ordering and installing network access equipment. The new configurations
are more cost-effective in WAN access applications that require bandwidth
on demand, such as videoconferencing, and corporate backup and overflow."

Multiband units can interface to videoconferencing systems, PBX systems and
routers, providing separate bandwidth on demand for the video, voice and
data traffic. Also, by utilizing inverse multiplexing, the multiple
channels are combined into a unified, end-to- end service across the WAN.

The new models bundle the most popular Multiband features, previously
available as separately priced options. The bundled feature set includes
Ascend Inverse Multiplexing (AIM), BONDING, dynamic bandwidth management,
call and device management, and RS366/V.25bis/X.21 dialing.

Multiband Plus systems connect up to four user devices with a choice of
network types. Models are available with a single T1/E1 Primary Rate
Interface (PRI), eight ISDN Basic Rate Interfaces (BRIs), or seven two- or
four-wire SW56 interfaces.

Multiband VSX models connect up to two user devices, and support one or
four ISDN BRI interfaces, or a single T1/PRI. Bundling features will save
customers up to $400 on the Multiband VSX BRI models.

Ascend Communications, Inc. is a leading, worldwide provider of remote
networking solutions for corporate central sites, Internet Service
Providers' points of presence, remote offices, mobile workers and
telecommuters. Ascend develops, manufactures, markets, sells and supports
products which utilize bandwidth on demand to extend existing corporate
networks for applications such as remote LAN access, Internet access,
telecommuting, SOHO connectivity and videoconferencing/multimedia access.
Detailed information on Ascend products, news announcements, seminars,
service and support is available on Ascend's home page at the World Wide
Web site http://www.ascend.com.

Ascend is headquartered at 1275 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, CA 94502
Phone: 800-621-9578; fax 510-214-2300;
E-mail: info@ascend.com.
Ascend's World Wide Web address is http://www.ascend.com.
 
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