ConnectSouth Selects Paradyne's Hotwire^® Grandslam to Provide Advanced Internet Solutions Across The Sunbelt. ConnectSouth is choosing the best of breed products.

Paradyne Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: PDYN) and ConnectSouth Communications Inc. today announced a multi-million dollar agreement to provide Paradyne's next-generation Hotwire GranDSLAM (DSL Access Multiplexer) and endpoints for deployment in ConnectSouth's network.

ConnectSouth, the "e-enabler" for small to medium-sized businesses in traditionally underserved cities throughout the South, has announced plans to install DSL in 800 ConnectSouth co-located central offices in approximately 80 cities. Service deployments will begin in Austin, Biloxi, Birmingham, Mobile, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Waco starting in May 2000.

"Our customers are going to need much more than broadband Internet access, and the Hotwire GranDSLAM system is going to allow us to develop our service offerings side by side with the needs of our customers," said Jeff Mucci, ConnectSouth's CEO and one of the company's founders. "The Paradyne system is both flexible and scalable, allowing us to offer traditional IP and frame relay connectivity in addition to emerging technologies such as voice over DSL. This is the first of many relationships that we will undertake to ensure that our customers have the best service backed by the latest technology and state-of-the-art hardware."

Paradyne's industry-defining Hotwire GranDSLAM will provide ConnectSouth with DSL access and network backbone connectivity in an integrated platform to support newly emerging standards while delivering traditional DSL-based services. The GranDSLAM provides support for up to 408 high-speed access lines, delivering a high quality of service for each subscriber line while making it one of the highest density units available. GranDSLAM will support multiple DSL transports, including MVL (Multiple Virtual Lines), DMT, G.Lite, SDSL, IDSL, Rate Adaptive DSL, Channelized SDSL and HDSL.

"Paradyne designed the Hotwire GranDSLAM with companies like ConnectSouth in mind," said Andy May, Paradyne's president and CEO. "Our DSLAM equipment offers the broadest range of service coverage opportunities available on the market today. We will continue to work with ConnectSouth to ensure that the platform will support new capabilities, allowing them to continue delivering cutting-edge services to their customers."

"Our customers deserve the best, and simply put, that is what we are giving them," Mucci concluded. "ConnectSouth is building the region's best DSL network, and our agreement with Paradyne will allow us to deliver a level of service that has yet to be seen in the South."

ABOUT CONNECTSOUTH

ConnectSouth Communications Inc., one of the nation's best funded and fastest growing Internet solution-based connection and Web service companies, provides a full-range of high-speed connectivity and Internet tools for small to medium-sized businesses in traditionally underserved markets. ConnectSouth will "e-enable" business customers in more than 80 cities across the Sunbelt to "Bridge the Digital Divide" by expanding their business opportunities through the power of the World Wide Web. Aside from its own advanced broadband network, ConnectSouth will offer customers a robust portfolio of Web applications including hosting, data back-up and e-commerce solutions. The Austin, Texas-based ConnectSouth is one of the best-funded companies of its kind, with over $100 million in committed equity from Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Private Equity, Fleet Equity Partners and Waller-Sutton Media Partners.

ABOUT PARADYNE

Headquartered in the Tampa Bay area, Paradyne is a leading innovator, developer and manufacturer of high-speed network access solutions over copper wire. The company is recognized as a market leader in DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), T1 and Service Level Management products. Paradyne markets its award-winning Hotwire^® DSL and FrameSaver® Service Level Management systems to Network Service Providers (NSPs) and business customers. Paradyne has shipped more than 4,900 Hotwire DSL Access Multiplexers (DSLAMs), for a total capacity of more than 1.3 million lines. Its Hotwire Connected program enables third-party DSL voice gateway and customer premises equipment to interoperate with Paradyne's family of Hotwire products.

More information on Paradyne is available by calling 1-800-PARADYNE (U.S. and Canada), 1-727-530-8623 or visiting www.paradyne.com. Paradyne's corporate video is available at http://www.paradyne.com/corpview. (Requires Real Player)

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Paradyne Corporation's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

Editors Note: Visit Paradyne's virtual pressroom at www.paradyne.com/news_n_events/press_room for product images and/or additional information. Product availability and pricing subject to change without notification. Hotwire Connected, MVL, NextEDGE, OpenLane, Smart Room, Tripleplay and TruePut are trademarks of Paradyne Corporation. ACCULINK, COMSPHERE, ETC, Hotwire, FrameSaver, Paradyne, the Paradyne logo and Performance Wizard are registered trademarks of Paradyne Corporation. All other service marks and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

ConnectSouth Communications, Inc., headquartered in Austin, Texas, is an "e-enabler," providing a full range of high-speed connectivity and Internet business application tools for small- and medium-sized businesses in traditionally underserved cities and towns in the Southern Region of the United States.