FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALPHA POWER SYSTEM PROVES ESSENTIAL WITHIN HOURS OF INSTALLATION

Denver, Color., April 19, 2001 - An early spring snowstorm, dumping nearly a foot of heavy snow, caused widespread power outages in Denver and surrounding areas earlier this month.

While extensive power outages plagued the region for hours, a recently installed Alpha power system supplied backup power to a critical remote hubsite, keeping the broadband network up and operational throughout the duration of the storm. Of interest was the fact that the Alpha power system that maintained uninterrupted power to the communication network was installed just 12 hours prior to the storm’s arrival.

With the convergence of multiple communication services and increased competition, customer service and reliability are becoming ever more important issues to both the service provider and the end user. Having the power system up and operational helped instill additional customer confidence in the operators ability to provide reliable communication services.

“In a time when network reliability is becoming increasingly more important, backup power systems are being regarded as a critical link in the reliability chain. Alpha’s power solutions are designed to meet these growing needs,” commented officials at Alpha.

The Alpha power system used in this particular application was a Novus XT. The Novus XT is an AC Uninterruptible Power System (UPS) designed to backup outside plant communication applications. Each Novus XT power system is comprised of four primary components: a durable, weather-resistant, outdoor enclosure, the UPS module, the power distribution unit, and long-life batteries. It provides critical protection from surges and spikes, during all modes of operation. The Novus XT 2000 can provide up to 16 hours of backup power, and is fully compatible with external DC generator systems should additional backup be required.

Alpha Technologies Inc. develops power conversion, protection and standby products for telecommunications and cable television industries, including custom, application-specific power solutions. In addition to product development, Alpha Technologies provides a comprehensive range of installation and maintenance services to support its global customer base. Alpha Technologies is a member of The Alpha Group of companies.

The Alpha Group represents a global alliance of independent companies that share a common philosophy - create world-class powering solutions for communication, commercial, industrial and renewable energy markets.

For this and/or additional information in electronic form, go to www.alpha.com.