Western Iowa Telephone Deploys MetaSwitch for VoIP Network

Alameda, CA: April 15, 2004. MetaSwitch, the leading provider of broadband Class 5 switching solutions, today announced that Western Iowa Telephone Ass'n has selected the MetaSwitch VP3500 to augment and eventually replace its existing legacy switches in eight exchanges serving residential and business customers in western Iowa. MetaSwitch was selected after a thorough evaluation that included all of the leading next generation switch vendors.

Vantage Point Solutions, Inc., a telecommunications engineering and consulting firm, provided engineering services for the project. "After an exhaustive requirements analysis MetaSwitch emerged as the preferred vendor for Western Iowa Telephone's configuration based on functionality, support track record and stability," said John M. DeWitte, P.E., Vice President of Engineering, Vantage Point Solutions, Inc. "MetaSwitch had also successfully passed the Iowa Network Services (INS) certification for interconnection to the statewide shared access network."

"We wanted a vendor that could truly deliver an IP interface together with the new services we need for our customers," said Phil Robinson, Vice President of Operations of Western Iowa Telephone Ass'n. "We successfully installed the MetaSwitch VP3500 and will soon begin migrating our 3000+ residential and business subscribers to the system. The switch is performing to expectations."

"Western Iowa Telephone Ass'n is a forward-thinking service provider with a very successful business model," said Bob Harvey, MetaSwitch Regional Manager. "They are ready to take advantage of the operational economies of an all-packet network as well as delivering IP-based services such as Internet data, voice, and broadcast quality video."

The MetaSwitch VP3500 is the leading broadband-enabled Next Generation Class 5 Switch in North America, with over 40 deployments, and support for VoIP, VoATM and GR-303, as well as advanced Web-based subscriber services. Service providers are able to simultaneously serve customers in multiple calling areas with over 100 Class 5 features and services. The MetaSwitch VP3500 is easy to deploy and scales from 400 to over 250,000 subscribers in a single rack.

About Western Iowa Telephone Ass'n

Western Iowa Telephone Ass'n is a member-owned cooperative providing telecommunication services to eleven rural communities in northwest Iowa. Founded in 1949 as Lawton Cooperative Telephone Association, the company now provides local and long distance telephone service to the exchanges of Moville, Lawton, Bronson, Climbing Hill, Hornick, Holly Springs, Castana, Oto, Smithland, Rodney and Turin. Western Iowa Telephone Ass'n also provides Internet service to these communities, as well as Anthon and Onawa. In addition, as an agent of Verizon Wireless, Western Iowa Telephone provides cellular telephone service.

For more information, see www.westerniowatelephone.com.

About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch, a division of privately held Data Connection, is the result of over 20 years of experience supplying leading-edge technology to the telecommunications industry. Data Connection's track record of consistent profitability ensures long-term commitment to product development and customer support. The widely deployed MetaSwitch VP3500 Next Generation Class 5 Switch offers service providers an immediate solution for broadband (VoIP and/or VoATM) and POTS service and a future-proof "softswitch" architecture for enhanced applications.

MetaSwitch has offices in Alameda, CA, Dallas, TX, Reston, VA, and Tampa, FL in the US and London, Chester, and Edinburgh in the UK.

For more information, see www.metaswitch.com.

Data Connection and MetaSwitch are trademarks of Data Connection Limited and Data Connection Corporation. Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.