Consolidated Communications Selects Equinox Telecom Fraud Management and Mediation Software

PROTECTOR 10.0 TO PROVIDE REAL-TIME TELECOM FRAUD PROTECTION AND ALERTING

Nashville, TN — February 28, 2003 - Nashville-based Equinox Information Systems today announced that Consolidated Communications, an integrated telecommunications company providing local and long distance service in Central Illinois, has licensed Protector 10.0, Collector Deluxe, and ShowCDR. Protector 10.0 is the latest version of the telecom industry's most widely deployed fraud management system. Collector Deluxe provides real-time delivery of call detail records (CDRs) from telephone switches to a carrier's local area network (LAN). ShowCDR provides real-time CDR searching and reporting capabilities.

"After reviewing our options, it became clear that no other vendor could match Equinox in terms of functionality, support, experience, and price," explained Ann Hunt, Fraud Control Manager at Consolidated Communications. "Throughout our relationship Equinox has demonstrated that they understand our needs and can deliver solutions to address them.

"Consolidated Communications' decision to deploy Protector 10.0, Collector Deluxe, and ShowCDR is the culmination of our long-standing commitment to provide flexible software as well as excellent service and support," noted David West, Executive Vice President for Equinox. "Our commitment to Consolidated Communications is reflective of the long-term relationships we establish with all of our customers as we continue to deliver excellent software backed by exceptional customer support.

About Consolidated Communications
With more than a century of telecommunications experience, Consolidated Communications, Inc. is a family of companies offering voice and data communications services to both business and residential customers, including local and long distance, Internet, business systems, retail and wholesale operator services, public services and fully integrated telemarketing and fulfillment services. Over the past year, Consolidated Communications has invested over $12 million in new infrastructure and facility improvements in its telecom operations service area in Central Illinois. As the area's leading long distance provider, Consolidated Communications has also donated over $2 million to area schools as part of its Earning for Learning program. For more information, please visit Consolidated at www.consolidated.com.

About Equinox
Founded in 1986, with hundreds of customers worldwide, Equinox Information Systems is a global provider of software solutions for the telecommunications industry. Providing a full range of software applications, which are backed by exceptional customer support, the company offers solutions in areas critical to profitability and network efficiency, including mediation, fraud detection, CDR and switch administration, and network management, as well as custom application development. For more information, visit Equinox at www.equinoxis.com.