PANASONIC SELECTS ASCEND AS ITS PARTNER FOR VIDEOCONFERENCING NETWORKS

The Integrated Product Lines Will Decrease the Cost of Videoconferencing

ALAMEDA, CALIF., APRIL 30, 1996 -- Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:
ASND) and Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Company (PBTSC) today
announced they will integrate Ascend's Multiband VSX inverse multiplexers
with Panasonic's VisionSeries videoconferencing systems. The integration
provides bandwidth on demand for superior video and audio quality, and
multi-location conferencing. The agreement also permits Panasonic to
resell the entire Ascend Multiband VSX product line.

"Panasonic has long been recognized as being first in digital video for the
consumer and broadcast markets, and is now experiencing tremendous
acceptance in the commercial market," claimed Frank Fish, Panasonics
national marketing manager. "The agreement with Ascend leverages two
state-of-the-art product lines to drive down the costs associated with
videoconferencing."

"Ascend pioneered the video access market, and welcomes Panasonic as a
distribution partner for our products," commented Roger Boyce, Ascend's
general manager of multimedia access products. "Panasonic's leadership
position will take our remote networking capabilities into a new market
segment."

Panasonic's VisionSeries videoconferencing systems are available in
desktop, roll-about and conference room configurations. All VisionSeries
systems utilize Panasonic's advanced WG-AV120 Codec for 30 FPS
(frame-per-second) operation at speeds from switched 56 kbps and Basic
Rate ISDN 128 kbps to T1 and Primary Rate ISDN at 1.544 Mbps. The built-in
Multi-Location Conferencing (MLC) is also a standard feature that
eliminates the need for a separate, expensive multipoint control unit
(MCU).

Ascend's Multiband VSX inverse multiplexers supply the WAN communications
at speeds ranging from 112 kbps to 1.544 Mbps. The Multiband VSX
establishes and removes digital dial-up connections as needed, and
eliminates the need for large, full-time, dedicated access lines. The
standard, compact unit incorporates inverse multiplexing with channel
bonding and advanced call management, and is certified for operation with
a full range of digital carrier services throughout the world.

Panasonic provides a broad range of videoconferencing and broadcast
products for corporate, government, distance education and health care
organizations. Panasonic invests heavily in research and development to
maintain its technology leadership in video and multimedia applications.
The company also has a worldwide service network to support its
videoconferencing installations. For more information call (800)528-8601.

Ascend Communications, Inc. is a leading, worldwide provider of remote
networking solutions for corporate central sites, Internet Service
Provider points of presence, remote offices, mobile workers and
telecommuters. Ascend develops, manufactures, markets, sells and supports
products with 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 on the World Wide
Web at http://www.ascend.com.

Ascend is headquartered at 1275 Harbor Bay Pkwy, 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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