SUPERIOR ESSEX Introduces 'Cobra Challenge' Contest

SUPERIOR ESSEX GA, April 24, 2000 - Superior TeleCom Inc. (SUT: NYSE), through its <%=company%> Communications Group, announced today the start of its 'Cobra Challenge' promotion, which will pay out a cash award to any customer who can find a better performing, less expensive Category 5e cable than SUPERIOR ESSEX Cobra Category 5e cable. Cobra cable was recently enhanced to provide a minimum of 21 dB ACR at 100 MHz and a typical performance of 26 dB. ACR and other electrical characteristics of Cobra cable greatly exceed TIA/EIA 568-A-5 specifications.

The 'Cobra Challenge' offers to pay 150% of the price difference between any purchased box (or reel) of Cobra Category 5e cable and any competitor's Cat 5e cable which is proven to exceed Cobra cable in performance tests. The performance tests required by the 'Cobra Challenge' are Return Loss, and PS-ACR, two of the most critical characteristics specified by design engineers.

"The 'Cobra Challenge' demonstrates the confidence we have in Cobra Cat 5e cable as the best value on the market today," said Tim Waldner, Sr. Vice President of Marketing for SUPERIOR ESSEX Communications Group. "The value of Cobra cable is not simply a function of its great price to performance ratio. It also comes from its combination of usability features that are not found together in competitive products."

"We're also excited by the incentive it gives end users to truly compare Cobra cable against the competition. Under controlled tests, we believe Cobra cable will outperform any equally or lower priced Category 5e cable. "

The 'Cobra Challenge' promotion runs from April 17, 2000 through July 15, 2000 and is being offered through the following participating distributors: Accu-Tech, ALLTEL Communications Products, Anicom, Graybar, Pinnacle Supply and Progressive Communications Supply. Details of the contest are available at www2.superioressex.com/challenge.htm

SUPERIOR ESSEX is the marketing name for Superior Telecommunications Inc., a subsidiary of Superior TeleCom Inc., the largest North American wire and cable manufacturer and the fourth largest wire and cable manufacturer in the world. Superior manufactures a broad portfolio of products with primary applications in the communications, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and electrical wire and cable markets. The company is a leading manufacturer and supplier of communications wire and cable products to telephone companies, distributors and system integrators; magnet wire for motors, transformers, generators and electrical controls; and building and industrial wire for applications in construction, appliances, recreational vehicles and industrial facilities.