Press Release

AMERICATEL, THE LEADING PROVIDER OF TELECOM SERVICES TO ETHNIC MARKETS ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Veteran Telecom Executive Chuck Taylor Named President and CEO

ROCKVILLE, MD AND DALLAS, TX, January 28, 2009 - Americatel, a Rockville, MD-based provider of telecom services to ethnic consumers and businesses in the United States announced today that Charles G. "Chuck" Taylor, Jr., currently President of Dallas-based Matrix Telecom, Inc ("Matrix") has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Americatel by its parent, Platinum Equity, LLC of Beverly Hills, CA. Mr. Taylor replaces former President and CEO Tomas Perez-Ducy, who left Americatel earlier this month to pursue other opportunities.

Mr. Taylor, who will continue as President of Dallas, TX-based Matrix, fully assumes all operating responsibilities for Americatel and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Startec Global Communications. His first priority is to drive the development of Americatel's North American voice network and its extensive retail product offerings under the Americatel and Startec brand names.

"I am very excited about the many great opportunities that lie ahead for Americatel, our customers and our partners. The company has a vast amount of deployed network assets as well as a fantastic brand name in a variety of good markets." stated Mr. Taylor. "We will be expanding our existing product lines with additional services while also collaborating with global partners who share an interest in the markets we serve."

Taylor, 50, a Michigan native and longtime Dallas resident has over twenty-two years of experience in the telecom industry, in both retail and wholesale business models. Named President of Matrix Telecom in September 2007, he originally founded Matrix Telecom in 1990 before leaving in 1996 for executive positions at Pacific Gateway Exchange and as Founder and President of Local Gateway Exchange. He rejoined Matrix as CFO in October 2001 with responsibility for all finance, accounting, collections and regulatory affairs.

Mr. Taylor graduated cum laude with a BS degree in Accounting from Lamar University and has been a Certified Public Accountant in Texas since 1984.

About Americatel

Americatel has been owned and operated by its parent company, Platinum Equity, LLC since 2006 and is part of a growing family of telecom companies in the Platinum Equity portfolio including Matrix Telecom. Inc., Covad Communications (www.covad.com), and DCA Services (www.dcaservices.com).

Americatel has been the leading provider of telecommunication services to ethnic businesses and consumers in the United States. The company also works with international long-distance carriers and Internet service providers transacting with the world's emerging economies. We offer high levels of satisfaction to every customer by understanding their needs and cultures, providing exceptional value and delivering reliable communication services.

Building on that tradition, Americatel is dedicated to being the leading provider of communication services to communities around the globe. Americatel services connect worldwide communities through a flexible network of owned and leased facilities, operating and termination agreements, and resale arrangements. Americatel’s technology assets include an extensive network of IP gateways, international gateways, domestic switches and ownership in undersea fiber optic cables. Americatel Corporation services consumers in North America through its Americatel brand and through it’s wholly owned subsidiary, Startec Global Communications (www.startec.com).

Americatel branded services primarily target Hispanic consumers in the United States. Services range from the highly recognized 1010-123 dial around service to the rapidly growing Cellular Accesso and LíneaPaís services. Americatel’s spokesperson, Don Francisco, is one of the most recognized Hispanic celebrities and his television variety show reaches millions of people each week.

Startec branded services are targeted primarily to non-Hispanic consumers throughout the United States and Canada. The key markets it serves are of Asian, European and Middle Eastern origin. Startec markets a range of dial around as well as Direct Dial and CellConnect services.

About Matrix Telecom, Inc.

Matrix Telecom, Inc., (www.matrixbt.com) a Platinum Equity, LLC-owned company, operating as Matrix Business Technologies and Trinsic, Powered by Matrix, is an integrated telecommunications provider serving consumers and small and medium size businesses nationwide. Matrix is licensed as a facilities-based CLEC and Long Distance Provider in 49 states plus DC. It has 200 employees with headquarters in Dallas, TX and operations in Rochester, NY and Atmore AL.

About Platinum Equity

Platinum Equity, LLC (www.platinumequity.com) , a global M&A&O® firm specializes in the merger, acquisition and operation of companies that provide services and solutions to customers in a broad range of business markets, including information technology, telecommunications, industrials, logistics, manufacturing, and entertainment distribution. Since its founding in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity has completed more than 100 acquisitions with more than $27.5 billion in aggregate annual revenue at the time of acquisition.

For Further Information:
Americatel
Meaghan Treanor
MTreanor@americatel.com
(301) 610-4368

Matrix Telecom, Inc.
Kevin P. Gorman
kgorman@matrixbt.com
(585) 530-3714

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