03/22/2000 - Atlantic.Net Makes 12th Acquisition

NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact: Doreen Sabina
Phone: (904) 249-3946
E-mail: doreen@atlantic.net

GAINESVILLE, FL - Atlantic.Net (http://www.atlantic.net), one of the Southeast’s most reliable Internet Service Providers, today announced it has completed the purchase of Spring Hill-based FiberNet. With this agreement, Atlantic.Net acquires FiberNet’s dial-up subscribers, dedicated access accounts and Web hosting and design clients in 19 cities throughout Florida, including Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. Specific terms of the deal are not being disclosed. This is Atlantic.Net’s second acquisition in the past week.

"Atlantic.Net has been in the process of establishing itself as a premier player in the Internet service industry for the past two years and I am very excited to now be a part of it," said Mark DeWar, founder of FiberNet and Atlantic.Net’s new office manager in Spring Hill.

"We believe that FiberNet subscribers will recognize our commitment to our customers and our focus on technology, which is what continues to attract both new and existing Internet users to our service," said Marty Puranik, president and CEO of Atlantic.Net. "Our rapidly growing subscriber base is testimony to the fact that Atlantic.Net provides a better Internet experience.''

FiberNet subscribers do not need to make any changes to their computers at this time. Effective immediately, FiberNet subscribers can take advantage of all of Atlantic.Net’s service features including local dial-up access numbers in five states, toll-free technical support seven days a week, Web mail, discussion groups, a monthly electronic newsletter, personal Web space with virtual domain name and convenient payment options. Business customers can take advantage of Atlantic.Net’s Web hosting and Web design services and high-speed dedicated access.

About Atlantic.Net
Atlantic.Net was founded in 1994 by two University of Florida students, Marty Puranik and Jose Sanchez, who started the company by selling computers. After being denied Internet access through the university in 1995, Puranik and Sanchez launched one of the first commercial Internet services in Gainesville and Ocala, Florida. Today, Atlantic.Net offers service in 46 locations across the state, more than any other ISP. The company has 40,000 subscribers in five states. Revenues have doubled every year since inception and in 1999 Atlantic.Net was recognized as Florida’s 15th fastest-growing private company.

Atlantic.Net’s $19.95 Unlimited Account service plan includes access to the World Wide Web, electronic and Web mail, discussion groups, toll free technical support 7 days a week, a monthly electronic newsletter, personal Web space with virtual domain name and convenient payment options. The company also has a Basic Account service plan for $9.95 per month. The Atlantic.Net software startup kit, featuring Netscape Communicator, is available for the Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh operating systems. 56K access is standard with all accounts, but the service is also compatible with older 14.4Kbps, 28.8/33.6Kbps modems as well as 64Kbps ISDN terminal adapters. 128Kbps ISDN is available for an additional monthly fee. Atlantic.Net’s business services include high-speed dedicated access, Web hosting and Web development and design.

To learn more about Atlantic.Net’s complete line of services, call 1-800-422-2936 or visit the corporate Web site at http://www.atlantic.net. Atlantic.Net’s new office in Spring Hill is located at 5480 Spring Hill Drive. Mark DeWar can be reached at 352-686-3044.