Digital Lightwave Names Gerry Chastelet, Telecommunications Industry Veteran, President and CEO.

CLEARWATER, Fla., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Lightwave(TM), Inc. (Nasdaq: DIGL), a provider of optical network test and management products, today announced the appointment of Gerry Chastelet as president and chief executive officer. Chastelet is a 30-year telecommunications industry veteran with extensive senior management experience, most recently as president and chief executive officer of Wandel & Goltermann Technologies, Inc., a $60-million global supplier of communications test and measurement equipment. Chastelet will report to Digital Lightwave founder Dr. Bryan J. Zwan, who continues as chairman of the board.

"I am pleased to bring a senior executive of Gerry's caliber on board to guide Digital Lightwave through the next phase of its growth in the burgeoning worldwide optical communications industry," said Zwan. "His proven operating experience, with direct responsibility for R&D and manufacturing, plus his background in growing sales organizations and building international sales channels, will be key to our success going forward. In addition, Gerry's industry experience at Wandel & Goltermann with major customers such as AT&T, Cisco Systems, Deutsche Telekom, GTE, IBM, MCI, NCR, Nortel, QUALCOMM, and Telecom Italia will help us form lasting industry partnerships as we expand our global business in the coming years."

During his tenure at Wandel & Goltermann, Chastelet executed a turnaround that resulted in significantly improved revenue and profitability. Wandel & Goltermann Technologies was acquired and privatized by Wandel & Goltermann Holdings GmbH in September 1998.

Chastelet has held senior management positions with Paradyne Corporation and Gandalf Systems Corporation. Before joining Wandel & Goltermann, Chastelet was vice president of sales and service of Network Systems Corporation, a $175-million supplier to Fortune 500 companies of channel-attached communications solutions for large mainframe computers.

Chastelet began his career as an electrical engineer at IBM Corporation, where he spent over 15 years in various sales, service, marketing and management positions. He has served on the board of directors of ATE Systems and Mercury Technology Services, Inc. and is a graduate of the University of Toronto Executive MBA Program.

About Digital Lightwave

Digital Lightwave serves the growing optical communications market -- high-speed telecommunications networks based on fiber optic technology. The company's products include portable Network Information Computers, which provide flexible, easy-to-use installation and maintenance testing solutions for fiber-optic-based networks and transmission equipment, and Network Access Agents(TM), which are unattended, software-controlled performance monitoring and diagnostic equipment installed within optical networks for management from a centralized location. Digital Lightwave customers include leading telecommunications service providers and equipment manufacturers. The company is headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., and can be located on the Internet at http://www.lightwave.com

Except for the historical statements made herein, this news release contains certain forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include: market acceptance of the company's products; delays in product development and delivery schedules; interoperability of the company's products; continued market growth; rapid technological changes; competitive factors; general business conditions; and other factors described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Annual Report on Form 10-K dated April 15, 1998. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The company assumes no obligation to update information contained in this release.

NOTE: Digital Lightwave, Network Information Computer and Remote Access Agent are trademarks of Digital Lightwave, Inc., for which application has been made.