AVICI SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS RELEASE DATE AND TIME

N. Billerica, Mass., January 08, 2001 -- Avici Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: AVCI), today announced it will release financial results of its fiscal fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2000, on January 18, 2001. In conjunction with this release, Avici will host a conference call on January 18 at 8:30 a.m. EST, which will also be broadcast live over the Internet.

To participate via telephone, the U.S. dial-in number is 800-230-1059, and the international dial-in number is 612-332-0345. Please call ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time. For live Webcasting, go to the Avici Website at www.avici.com and access the investor relations section, clicking on either the live Webcast link or microphone icon to listen.

The conference call will be archived on the Avici Website for approximately 48 hours. A replay of the call will be accessible by telephone after 11:00 a.m. and will be available for approximately 48 hours afterward. To replay the call dial 800-475-6701 in the U.S. and 320-365-3844 internationally using the access code 564047.

About Avici Systems
Avici Systems Inc., headquartered in North Billerica, Mass., is a developer of next-generation Internet backbone platforms that optimize and drive creation of all-optical "speed-of-light" networks. Designed to bring packet intelligence to the core of optical networks, Avici's technologies offer superior scalability, resiliency and port density enabling just-in-time bandwidth provisioning, high reliability and the quality of service needed for carriers and ISPs to support mission-critical applications of the future. Visit Avici's World Wide Website at http://www.avici.com.