LUMBERTON, September 18, 2001 — Bolstering its broadband services offering, Carolina Online today announced the launch of its high-speed satellite Internet access service. Dubbed HyperSonic Satellite, the new service will initially roll out regionally in Southeastern North Carolina, followed by a planned East Cost availability before the end of October and eventually be available to most of the continental U.S.

The launch underscores Carolina Online's commitment to offer its subscribers multiple broadband technologies to give each subscriber the best possible high-speed access alternative. By utilizing a wide variety of vendors wherever possible, Carolina Online has been able to offer its subscribers one of the largest DSL coverage areas in the Southeast. Carolina Online is committed to extending this philosophy to all its high-speed access services, with the goal of delivering the best possible experience to the largest possible audience.

"The ability to offer broadband service throughout North and South Carolina has been our ultimate goal," said Gary Carr, President, CEO, and founder of Carolina Online. "By adding the satellite service to our product lineup, we will reach rural areas not served by our Wireless and DSL offerings. From all the positive feedback we've received for our Wireless and DSL offerings, we know there is a big market for broadband among Internet users whose only option up to now was dialup."

In addition to its DSL and satellite services, Carolina Online is aggressively pushing the deployment of high speed fixed wireless Internet access to its subscribers. Carolina Online already has towers operational throughout Robeson and Bladen counties.  In addition, Carolina Online provides the core Internet services for partners' DSL and fixed wireless offerings. By integrating all these different broadband technologies into its product offerings, Carolina Online has created one of the largest broadband service footprints in the Carolinas.

Carr continued, "In addition to being able to provide faster connections to those who can't get DSL or fixed wireless, we will be able to better serve our subscribers by matching their needs with the appropriate technology by offering the customer a full selection of broadband options."

HyperSonic Satellite is currently available in Southeastern North Carolina, and will be available across North and South Carolina before the end of the year. The service costs $49.95 per month for downstream speeds of up to 400 Kbps. Subscribers will get all the award-winning perks of Carolina Online's service, including unlimited free dial-up roaming at over 7,500 local phone numbers, 20 email addresses, 150 MB of personal Web space, and more. There's a one-time charge of $275 for the equipment which includes professional installation.

For more information about HyperSonic Satellite service, please visit http://www.carolina.net/satellite/. For information about Carolina Online's other award-wining Internet access, Web hosting and e-commerce services, please call 888-839-4595 or visit www.carolina.net.