Sonus Networks Selected by Carphone Warehouse as a Strategic Supplier for its Leading Next Generation Network

Sonus Networks Selected by Carphone Warehouse as a Strategic Supplier for its Leading Next Generation Network

June 27, 2006

Opal Telecom Deploys Sonus Solutions to Support Carphone Warehouse's 21st Century Voice Service, TalkTalk; Innovative New Service is One of Europe's Fastest Growing IP-Based Voice Offerings

    SWINDON, UK, June 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Sonus
Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONS), a leading supplier of
service provider voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure
solutions, and Opal Telecom, a subsidiary of Carphone
Warehouse, one of the United Kingdom's largest
telecommunications network operators, announced today that
as part of a multi-million dollar contract with Sonus, Opal
Telecom has deployed Sonus solutions as the foundation for
Carphone Warehouse's next-generation network.  By
leveraging Sonus' IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-ready
architecture, which includes the full set of UK primary
line residential call features, Carphone Warehouse will be
able to leverage Opal's Sonus-based network to deliver a
unique value proposition to residential customers
throughout the UK. In addition, by deploying Sonus'
industry-leading infrastructure, Carphone Warehouse is
positioned to be a leading next generation
telecommunications provider.

    "Carphone Warehouse is one of the most recognized
brands in the European telecommunications industry, and we
are proud that Opal Telecom has selected Sonus as its
strategic supplier for its next-generation voice
network," said Hassan Ahmed, chairman and CEO, Sonus
Networks.  "Recent regulatory changes are transforming
the competitive landscape, and Opal Telecom is one of the
first service providers to fully embrace the opportunity. 
The Sonus solution allows Carphone Warehouse to deliver a
high quality residential service with today's UK call
features, but more importantly, the solution provides the
foundation for future multi-media and wireless
services." 

    Designed to reach nearly 70% of the population in the
UK, Opal's next generation network will be one of the most
sophisticated telecommunications networks in the world. 
Opal will deploy the complete, end-to-end Sonus solution,
including the ASX(TM) Access Server, GSX9000(TM), PSX(TM)
Call Routing Server, SGX(TM) Signaling Gateway, and the
Sonus Insight(TM) Management System to deliver a unique
primary line residential voice service that enables
enhanced capabilities while supporting the stringent
demands for reliability and telecom-grade quality of
service.  The Sonus/Opal network deployment highlights the
significant benefits that next generation technology
offers, enabling service providers to rapidly replace
legacy networks with a full scale IP-based solution that
can scale to support millions of users.

    "Sonus is the premier provider of next-generation
telecommunications solutions worldwide.  Our investment in
a Sonus-based network will allow us to offer our customers
an enhanced voice service with the same or better service
quality than our customers receive today," said Neil
McArthur, managing director, Networks, Opal Telecom. 
"Consumers and businesses throughout the UK will now
have an unprecedented opportunity to enjoy a truly
converged voice service, using their existing telephone
equipment.  The Opal network currently carries over 1.5
billion minutes of voice traffic per month, and by the end
of 2006, we hope to have doubled that number.  We are
confident that by selecting Sonus as the foundation for our
next-generation network, we are deploying the platform that
will enable us to successfully support our customers now
and into the future."

    Opal's nationwide deployment is driven by the recent
regulatory decision from the UK's Office of Communications
(OFCOM) requiring the unbundling of last mile
infrastructure to the home, which is known as Local Loop
Unbundling (LLU). In February 2006, the Office of the
Telecommunications Adjudicator (OTA) announced that,
according to the new consolidated forecast, an estimated
2-3 million lines will be unbundled by the end of 2006. 

    "The telecommunications environment in the United
Kingdom is currently undergoing a massive overhaul,
creating a significant opportunity for new players like
Carphone Warehouse to challenge British Telecom's market
position," said Teresa Mastrangelo, principal analyst
with Broadbandtrends.com. "Selecting Sonus as the
foundation for its network will help Carphone Warehouse
capitalize on this tremendous opportunity by deploying a
highly scalable carrier class network quickly and
efficiently."

    "Sonus is committed to extending its global
leadership position by becoming the number one preferred
provider of carrier grade voice solutions in Europe,"
said Joop van Aard, vice president, Europe, Middle East
& Africa, Sonus Networks. "Sonus established an
early foothold in the emerging European market, and Opal's
decision to deploy our technology as the foundation of its
network reaffirms Sonus' position as an industry leader.
We're extremely proud to be working with one of the
region's premier communications providers."

    Carphone Warehouse's TalkTalk phone service is one of
the region's fastest growing voice services, and since
launching the service in 2003, more than 2.6 million people
have signed up.  In April 2006, TalkTalk launched the UK's
first ever FREE broadband service and already has over
340,000 subscribers.  Given Opal's nationwide footprint,
Carphone Warehouse's new voice service has the potential to
reach nearly 70% of UK residents making it the largest 
Sonus-based, residential voice network in the world.   

    Sonus, Opal and Gartner will be hosting a webinar with
the financial community at 12:30 pm ET (5:30 pm BST) today,
June 27th, to further discuss this announcement.  To view a
webcast of this event and other financial conferences, or
to obtain a schedule of upcoming events, please visit the
Sonus Networks Investor Relations site at:
http://www.sonusnet.com/contents/corporate/investorrelations.cfm
.  

    To join the conference via telephone:

    Dial-in number: 800-313-6989
    International Callers: 212-231-6047

    Replay:

    A telephone playback of the call will be available
following the conference and can be accessed by calling
[phone], or for international callers, please call
[phone]. The reservation number for the replay is
21297530. The telephone playback will be available through
July 11, 2006.

    A replay of the webcast will be also available on the
Sonus Networks Investor Relations site through Wednesday,
June 27, 2007. To access the replay of the webcast, visit
http://www.sonusnet.com , Corporate, Investor Relations.

    About Opal Telecom 

    Opal is one of the UK's largest telecom network
operators and is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Carphone
Warehouse plc (a FTSE 250 company). With headquarters in
Warrington and divisions in Manchester, London, West
Midlands, Leeds, Glasgow and Belfast, the company offers
voice services primarily to the Corporate and SME (small
and medium sized enterprises) market in the UK.

    Opal combines technological innovation, customer
service excellence, service quality and competitive pricing
with a range of unique value-added services such as call
recording, screening and queuing to ensure their customers
remain competitive, creative and efficient.

    Opal employs over 700 staff and currently manages over
150,000 business customers. Opal has grown substantially
and turnover to March 2005 was 285m pounds sterling.

    Opal is the network operator for Carphone Warehouse's
residential TalkTalk service.

    About Sonus Networks 

    Sonus Networks, Inc. is a leading provider of voice
over IP (VoIP) infrastructure solutions for wireline and
wireless service providers. With its comprehensive IP
Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) solution, Sonus addresses the
full range of carrier applications, including residential
and business voice services, wireless voice and multimedia,
trunking and tandem switching, carrier interconnection and
enhanced services. Sonus' voice infrastructure solutions
are deployed in service provider networks worldwide.
Founded in 1997, Sonus is headquartered in Chelmsford,
Massachusetts. Additional information on Sonus is available
at http://www.sonusnet.com .

    This release may contain forward-looking statements
regarding future events that involve risks and
uncertainties.  Readers are cautioned that these
forward-looking statements are only predictions and may
differ materially from actual future events or results. 
Readers are referred to the "Risk Factors"
section of Sonus' Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated March
15, 2005, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, dated May 8,
2006, both filed with the SEC, which identify important
risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from
those contained in the forward-looking statements.  Risk
factors include among others: the impact of material
weaknesses in our disclosure controls and procedures and
our internal control over financial reporting on our
ability to report our financial results timely and
accurately; the unpredictability of our quarterly financial
results; risks associated with our international expansion
and growth; consolidation in the telecommunications
industry; and potential costs resulting from pending
securities litigation against the company. Any
forward-looking statements represent Sonus' views only as
of today and should not be relied upon as representing
Sonus' views as of any subsequent date.  While Sonus may
elect to update forward-looking statements at some point,
Sonus specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.

    Sonus is a registered trademark of Sonus Networks.  All
other company and product names may be trademarks of the
respective companies with which they are associated.

    For more information, please contact:

    Sonus Networks:                   
     Investor Relations                
     Jocelyn Philbrook                 
     Tel:   [phone]                   
     Email: [e-mail] 

     US Media Relations
     Sarah McAuley 
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

    Opal Telecom:
     Nicola Moss
     Tel:   +44-87O-458-4158
     Email: [e-mail]

    EMEA Media Relations:
     Tom Cheesewright
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]


SOURCE  Sonus Networks, Inc.