Charter Selects Ceon to Manage and Deliver Broadband Activation and Provisioning Operating System

NEW ORLEANS, May 6, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Off-the-Shelf Solution to Enable Customer Self-Service Initiatives, Reduce Operating Costs and Support the Acceleration of New Service Introductions

Ceon Corporation and Charter Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:CHTR) today announced the signing of an Enterprise License Agreement to provide Charter with a multi-service, flow-through provisioning system to speed the deployment of current and future services to its 7 million customers nationwide.

The agreement will provide Charter with a license to the Ceon Integration & Provisioning Suite(TM), which includes Ceon's Intelligent Order Manager(TM) and Intelligent Activation Server(TM). Ceon software will be used to support flow-through provisioning functions for the cable company's Charter Pipeline(R) high-speed data service. The same Ceon platform will also be utilized to support VoIP (Voice over IP) and CBR (Constant Bit Rate) voice activation. Provisioning of advanced video and other future services are also anticipated within the agreement, with service to residence and small business customers.

"Charter requires an off-the-shelf solution to enable customer self-service initiatives, reduce operating costs and support the acceleration of new service introductions. Ceon's product architecture, scalability and vision complement Charter's enterprise-wide operations support and interoperability strategy," said Michael Riddle, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Charter.

"After exhaustive due diligence, we determined that Ceon's product provides network element vendor independence, allowing Charter to select best of breed network solutions while minimizing operations impact," said John Pietri, Senior Vice President of Engineering for Charter.

Ceon's flow-through provisioning capabilities will provide automated management of orders processed via the Charter call center or the self-install portal, which means that customers will no longer need to wait for a service technician to activate the service. Charter plans to have the system fully operational later this year.

"Charter's commitment to Ceon validates the necessity for a scalable, state-of-the-art OSS provisioning platform within the Tier One MSO community that drives down customer acquisition costs, thus shortening the breakeven period on new service introductions," said Jack Methven, Chief Executive of Ceon. "Ceon's Tier One capability fulfills Charter's vision of offering multiple services across its existing network via a single provisioning system. We are thrilled to be working so closely with the Charter management team."

    About Charter Communications

With 7 million customers in 40 states, Charter Communications, a Wired World Company(TM), is among the nation's largest broadband communications companies. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services to the home, including cable television on an advanced digital video programming platform, marketed under the Charter Digital Cable(R) brand; and high-speed Internet access marketed under the Charter Pipeline(R) brand. Commercial high-speed data, video, and Internet solutions are provided under the Charter Business Networks(TM) brand. Advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media brand. A Fortune 500 and Nasdaq 100 Company, Charter was the 2001 recipient of the Outstanding Corporate Growth Award from the Association for Corporate Growth, the 2001 R.E. "Ted" Turner Innovator of the Year Award from the Southern Cable Telecommunications Association, and the 2001 Fast 50 Award for Growth from the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association. More information about Charter can be found at www.charter.com.

    About Ceon

Ceon's mission is to develop software platforms that automate the delivery of any telecommunications service and content over any network at any time or place the customer chooses. Ceon's platforms integrate seamlessly over existing carrier systems, enabling streamlined provisioning for mass-deployment. Ceon's unique Integration & Provisioning Suite 4 (CIP4) is unparalleled in flexibility and scalability, and specifically is designed for Tier 1 and 2 MSO and ILEC/Telco service providers. CIP4 offers its customers significant competitive advantages by dramatically lowering operating expenses, generating revenue faster while improving customer service, and creating the flexibility to bundle multiple services for higher profitability. A privately held company headquartered in Redwood City, California, Ceon has regional sales offices in North America and Europe. For more information visit www.ceon.com.

CONTACT:          Ceon Corporation, Redwood City
                  Melanie Stone, 650/817-6393
                  mstone@ceon.com
                  or
                  Charter Communications
                  Andy Morgan, 314/543-2217
                  amorgan@chartercom.com

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