SOURCE: Digital Lightwave, Inc.

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

CLEARWATER, Fla., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Lightwave, Inc. (Nasdaq: DIGL - news), 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, 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.

SOURCE: Digital Lightwave, Inc.