Acme Packet Receives Comet Award from Communication Systems Design Magazine

Recognized as leading communications company for superior innovation, vision and technology

WOBURN, MA - September 4, 2002 - Acme Packet™, a developer of session border controllers for service providers delivering interactive communications across IP networks, today announced it has been selected as a 2002 Comet Award winner by Communication Systems Design Magazine. The Comets honor up-and-coming companies that demonstrate the necessary vision, focus, technology and risk-taking skills to become a major player in the communications market. Acme Packet will be presented the award at a ceremony on September 23rd in conjunction with the Communications Design Conference (September 23-26, San Jose Convention Center).

"We are proud to receive a 2002 Comet award and are excited that our initiatives in advancing the market for session border controllers have been recognized by our industry colleagues," said Andy Ory, president & CEO, Acme Packet. "This award emphasizes the value our Net-Net™ products offer to service providers delivering real-time IP communications across network borders."

Now in their third year, the Comets honor small to medium-sized companies that have the technology, vision and wherewithal to help them become a vital player in the communications industry going forward. A team of editors from Communication Systems Design, EE Times and CommsDesign.com develops and evaluates a list of more than 70 of the hottest young communication companies in the market, and after several rounds of voting and many discussions, culls that list to twenty.

"In a challenging communications market climate, Acme Packet outshines others with its technology foresight and its Net-Net family of session border controllers," said Patrick Mannion, Editor-in-Chief, Communication Systems Design magazine. "The Net-Net products provide service providers with an evolutionary approach to delivering interactive communications - voice, video, multimedia - across IP network borders. We are delighted to honor Acme Packet with a 2002 Comet award."

About Acme Packet

Acme Packet enables network service providers to deliver premium, interactive communications - voice, video and multimedia sessions - across IP network borders. Our Net-Net family of session border controllers satisfy critical security, service assurance and law enforcement requirements in wireline, wireless and cable networks. Established in August 2000 by networking industry veterans and headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, Acme Packet is a privately held company with venture funding from Canaan Partners, Menlo Ventures, Beachhead Capital and other investors. For more information, contact us at +1 781.328.4400, or visit us at www.acmepacket.com

About Communications Systems Design

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS DESIGN is the technical magazine for engineers and managers involved in the design of communications products, systems and equipment for Personal, Home/SoHo, Enterprise, and Infrastructure applications. The editorial focuses on the development of these applications, current technologies enabling these designs and the emerging technologies that will affect future designs. With a qualified circulation of 40,000 communications engineers and managers, Communication Systems Design is published by CMP Media LLC.