CenturyTel Deploys DSET Electronic-Bonding Products

Bridgewater, NJ - March 8, 2001 - (Nasdaq: DSET) - DSET Corporation announced today that CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL), a major integrated communications provider, has deployed DSET electronic-bonding gateways to interconnect with BellSouth and automate pre-order and ordering operations. CenturyTel, which purchased the DSET solutions in September 2000, began the software installation process in December and completed this phase of deployment in January. Subsequent testing with BellSouth was successfully completed by the third week of February 2001.

One of the DSET gateways enables CenturyTel to accelerate customer migration from incumbent carriers such as BellSouth by quickly obtaining customer service records (CSRs) from the incumbents and automatically interpreting the CSR data for fast, cost-effective processing. The other DSET solutions purchased by CenturyTel automate the ordering of local loops for new customers from trading partners and the ordering of bandwidth needed to provision special access/transport and switched access services.

"We found DSET's network package to be one of the most mature products on the market," said Beverly Posey, CenturyTel Director of Operations - CLEC. "This product will integrate with trading partners for local service requests and access service requests, as well as facilitating the development of our trouble administration module."

Posey said the relationship between CenturyTel and DSET helps provide greater control over customer orders, making it easier to maintain service agreements for customer installation and trouble administration.

"CenturyTel's deployment of DSET gateways emphasizes the importance of automated interconnection with trading partners for all competitive service providers," said Jeff Gill, DSET's vice president of professional services. "The current climate in the telecom marketplace demands that providers implement an operations support architecture that affords them the fastest turn-up time for services with minimal risk. As shown at telecom providers across North America, our software solutions have proven that DSET is the safe bet when it comes to achieving these objectives, both in terms of capabilities and the timeframe needed to deploy our products."

About CenturyTel

CenturyTel, Inc. provides communications services including local exchange, wireless, long distance, Internet access and data services to nearly three million customers in 21 states. The company, headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CTL. CenturyTel is the 8th largest local exchange telephone company, based on access lines, and the 8th largest cellular company, based on population equivalents owned, in the United States. Visit CenturyTel's corporate Web site at www.centurytel.com.

About DSET:

DSET Corporation is a leading supplier of software and services that enable telecommunications providers to implement electronic Trading Partner Networks, which significantly reduce the time required to provision services for customers and resolve service outages to maintain high service quality and ensure customer retention. DSET is headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and the company's Web site can be viewed at www.dset.com.

Statements regarding financial matters contained in this press release, other than historical facts, are forward-looking. Since all statements about DSET's plans, estimates, and expectations are based on current projections that involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change at any time, the company's actual results may differ materially from expected results. Investors should consider these risks and uncertainties, which are discussed in documents filed by DSET with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents identify important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in the projections or forward-looking statements. DSET expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

# # # #

DSET Contacts:

Media Relations: Dean Maskevich, Marketing Communications, 908-526-7500 Ext. 1366,
e-mail: dmaskevi@dset.com

Investor Relations: John P. Murphy, Westfield Investor Relations, 908-233-1558, e-mail: westfieldir@worldnet.att.net

DSET and the DSET logo are registered trademarks of DSET Corporation.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.