Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               Contact: Laurie Parker or
November 4, 1998                                             JuliAnne Forrest
                                                             (202) 333-0700


                            PATHNET TAPS BOB FERRY AS
                            CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER


     Washington,  D.C. - Pathnet today announced Bob Ferry as Chief  Information
Officer  (CIO).  Mr.  Ferry,   formerly  Chief  Technology  Officer  for  Sector
Communications,  brings  over 16 years  of  telecommunications,  technology  and
corporate development experience to Pathnet's growing management team.

     Pathnet is fast becoming a leading provider of high-quality, low cost, long
haul  telecommunications  capacity to second-  and  third-tier  U.S.  markets by
upgrading existing wireless infrastructure to a state-of-the-art SONET network.

     As CIO, Mr. Ferry will be responsible for developing and managing Pathnet's
information  technology  architecture strategy and planning processes associated
with systems expansion. "Bob's experience will be instrumental in developing and
managing   Pathnet's   strategic   information   systems  to  maximize  business
effectiveness," said Dick Jalkut, President and CEO.

     During his tenure at Sector  Communications,  Mr.  Ferry set the  technical
direction  for  two  European  subsidiaries:  a fiber  optic  telecommunications
services provider,  and a developer of distributed systems management  software.
He also managed all  local-area-network  and data communications systems for the
U.S. office, and oversaw all U.S. marketing and sales efforts.


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     Prior to his work with Sector,  Mr. Ferry was the  President and Founder of
Insight  Information,  where he advised companies on how to maximize information
technologies as competitive business tools.  Insight Information  specialized in
evaluating new communications and computing products, technologies,  vendors and
services for potential use by client companies.

     Before starting Insight Information,  Mr. Ferry was Director of Information
Systems for Temps & Co., where he managed all aspects of technology,  computing,
telecommunications, systems and information services staff for fourteen sites in
five  states.  Previously,  Mr.  Ferry  served as Senior  Systems  Engineer  for
Spectrum  Analysis & Frequency  Engineering and as Systems Engineer for DDL-Omni
Engineering.

     As of the beginning of June, 49  companies,  controlling  over 95,000 route
miles of private microwave  communications  systems,  have authorized Pathnet in
writing  to  prepare  preliminary  engineering  evaluations  of their  networks.
Pathnet is positioning  itself  primarily as a "carriers'  carrier" to provide a
high-capacity,  dedicated  network to  interexchange  carriers,  local  exchange
carriers,  Internet  service  providers,   Regional  Bell  Operating  Companies,
cellular   operators  and  resellers.   Pathnet   headquarters  are  located  in
Washington,  D.C.,  at 1015 31st Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.,  20007.  For
additional  information  about  Pathnet,  visit the company  website  located at
www.pathnet.net.

     This  press  release   contains  some  matters  that  are   forward-looking
statements. The reader is cautioned that these forward-looking  statements, such
as plans to sign additional  agreements with private  network  operators;  offer
services to telecom service providers;  build a digital network;  and statements
regarding the development of Pathnet's business,  and other statements contained
herein regarding matters that are not historical facts, are only predictions. No
assurance can be given that the future  results will be achieved;  actual events
may differ  materially as a result of risks facing Pathnet.  For a discussion of
factors that could affect the forward-looking  statements,  see Pathnet's public
filings on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.