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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.03

                         SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT

   BETWEEN
   SUMMUS LIMITED                   AND     HIGH SPEED NET SOLUTIONS
   434 FAYETTEVILLE STREET MALL             434 FAYETTEVILLE STREET MALL
   SUITE 600                                SUITE 2120
   RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27601            RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27601
  (LICENSOR)                               (LICENSEE)

THIS SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is by and between Summus
Limited ("Licensor") and High Speed Net Solutions "HSNS" ("Licensee") and is
effective this 18th day of February, 2000. Licensor will provide Software
Maintenance Service for the MaxxSystem product suite (the "MaxxSystem Program")
licensed to Licensee pursuant to that certain Software License Agreement, dated
of even date herewith, by and between Licensor and Licensee (the "License
Agreement"). Capitalized terms herein not otherwise defined shall have the
meaning set forth in the License Agreement. The terms and conditions of the
License Agreement shall govern Licensee's use of the Program.

1.       This Agreement shall serve as the exclusive definition of the
         Maintenance Services for the MaxxSystem Program.

2.       The term of this Agreement shall be coincident and conterminous with
         the License Agreement (the "Term"). Maintenance Services shall be
         provided without charge for the first year, and for a charge (the
         "Maintenance Fee") of $ 180,000 for the second year. The Maintenance
         Fee is payable in advance each year. Licensor shall invoice Licensee at
         least thirty days prior to the renewal date, with the Maintenance Fee
         payable on the renewal date. Licensor shall not be required to continue
         providing Maintenance Services if Licensee is more than thirty days
         late in payment. Licensor may increase the Maintenance Fee each year
         after the second year by the increase in the Employment Cost Index of
         the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, for non- seasonally adjusted
         private industry compensation for professional and technical
         occupations, using the calendar year ending in the second year of
         maintenance or the base year. Licensee may reinstate lapsed support and
         maintenance for MaxxSystem Programs licensed from Licensor upon payment
         for all support and maintenance fees in arrears and all costs invoiced
         by Licensor on a time and materials basis for updating Licensee's
         MaxxSystem Program to the then-current version.

3.       During the Term, Licensee shall perform the Maintenance Services set
         forth herein provided Licensee is not in breach of the terms of this
         Agreement or the License Agreement. "MaxxSystem Program Upgrades" shall
         mean bug fixes, new versions, and upgrades provided by Licensor to
         Licensee under the License Agreement. those new versions of or
         additions to the MaxxSystem Program together with such additional
         Documentation as Licensor deems appropriate, which have been developed
         by Licensor to enhance the MaxxSystem Program's operating performance
         without changing its basic function and which may be provided to
         Licensee under the Support Agreement.

4        Maintenance Services shall consist of the following:

                  A. SOFTWARE UPDATE SERVICE

                  Standard support only covers the latest version of the
                  Licensor developed software deliverables and third-party
                  software originally supplied by Licensor ("Covered Third-Party
                  Software") under the License Agreement. Maintenance for other
                  third-party software such as the computer operating system
                  must be obtained from the supplier and are the responsibility
                  of the Licensee. Licensor will specify the third party version
                  (operating system, ORACLE, etc.) required for each MaxxSystem
                  Program release.

                  SOFTWARE UPDATE SERVICE INCLUDES:
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                  o        distribution and application of Covered Third-Party
                           Software maintenance modifications and enhancements,
                           when available from the third party vendors.

                  o        delivery to Licensee on or before delivery to any
                           other customers of generally available versions of
                           the MaxxSystem Program and its component programs
                           that Licensor releases after the effective date of
                           the License Agreement, including (a) error
                           corrections, maintenance releases, major and minor
                           releases, and products that Licensor releases after
                           the effective date of the License Agreement that
                           supersede the MaxxSystem Program or its component
                           programs; (b) any migration aids for users migrating
                           from the prior version of the MaxxSystem Program; and
                           (c) any Documentation related to either (a) or (b).
                           Minor releases, containing incremental improvements
                           and minor new functionality, will be provided not
                           less than once a year.

                  B. SOFTWARE SUPPORT

                  MAXXSYSTEM PROGRAM support covers the latest version of the
                  Licensor developed software deliverables provided to Licensee
                  under the License Agreement and are defined by the Casual
                  Consulting services. Casual Consulting services for the
                  MAXXSYSTEM PROGRAM includes the following services:

                           o        Level 2 and Level 3 technical assistance
                                    regarding installation and operation of the
                                    MaxxSystem Program.

                           o        Level 2 and Level 3 Telephone 5 X 8 (5 days
                                    a week, 8 hours a day) support in accordance
                                    with published Summus Limited holidays.

                           o        Replication of errors reported by Licensee,
                                    if reasonably practical.

                           o        Creation of a test case that generates the
                                    reported error.

                           o        Includes application updates and application
                                    upgrades to current licensed functionality.

                           o        Provide incident report and resolution time
                                    frame statistics on technical support calls.

                           o        Creation and supply of error corrections on
                                    a prompt commercial basis.

                  Support is provided via telephone or web during normal
                  business hours Monday through Friday (8:00 AM to 12:00, 1:00
                  PM - 5:00 PM, Eastern Time) except for Summus Limited
                  holidays.

                  Support will be provided according to the following severity
                  schemes for both production and BETA release software:

                           - Severity 1: System is not operational and is
                           causing revenue impact to the customer. Response time
                           due within one hour. A fix must be provided within 24
                           hours.

                           - Severity 2: A portion of the system is not
                           operational and is causing business impact to the
                           customer. Response time due within 4 hours. A fix
                           must be provided within 3 days.

                           - Severity 3: A portion of the system is down with
                           limited to no impact on the customer's business
                           operations. Response time due within one business
                           day. A fix must be provided within 2 weeks.

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                           - Severity 4: Cosmetic problems. Response timE due
                           within 3 business days. A fix must be provided within
                           three months.

         The following items, among others, are specifically excluded from
         Casual Consulting:

                  o        Interpretation of the MaxxSystem Program's results.

                  o        Supply of typical or representative data.

                  o        Assistance with computer hardware and peripheral
                           questions not related to the MaxxSystem Program's
                           use.

                  o        Assistance with computer operating system questions
                           not directly pertinent to the MaxxSystem Program.

                  o        Data debugging and/or correcting.

                  o        Services necessitated as a result of any cause other
                           than the MaxxSystem Program's ordinary, proper use by
                           Licensee, including but not limited to neglect,
                           abuse, unauthorized maintenance, or electrical, fire,
                           water, or other damage.

                  o        Special applications of the MaxxSystem Program not
                           part of its intended, normal use.

                  o        On-Site Maintenance.

                  o        Guidance on the MaxxSystem Program's intended, normal
                           use.

                  o        Services resulting from the failure of Licensee to
                           provide a suitable environment for the MaxxSystem
                           Program or as associated equipment.

                  o        Service on any release of the MaxxSystem Program
                           prior to the latest release provided to Licensee
                           under the License Agreement.

5.       Customer agrees that if Licensor performs the maintenance services
         designated hereunder at Customer's site and Licensor determines that a
         problem with the Licensed Software, or an apparent problem with the
         Licensed Software, is or has been caused by (i) any software other than
         the Licensed Software, or (ii) by hardware not provided by Licensor,
         then Customer shall reimburse Licensor for its labor costs for such on-
         site services at the Licensor's customary rates then in effect. In such
         an event, Customer shall not be responsible for Licensor's labor costs
         associated with other than on-site labor or for any travel costs
         associated with such on-site labor.

6.       The maximum liability of Licensor for any direct damages sustained by
         the Licensee under this Software Maintenance Agreement arising from
         Licensor negligence shall in no circumstance exceed the amount of the
         annual maintenance fee payable by the Licensee to Licensor, plus the
         fees paid by Licensee (including application of credits) under the
         License Agreement depreciated on a straight-line basis over a six year
         term. The Licensee and Licensor shall in no event be liable one to the
         other for loss of revenue, profit, anticipated profit or indirect,
         incidental, special or consequential damages, including but not limited
         to, any losses to Licensee resulting from lost computer time or the
         destruction or damage of records, or any claims or demands made against
         the Licensee by a third party. Licensor shall maintain general
         liability and property damage insurance in reasonable limits and shall
         maintain proper worker's compensation insurance covering all employees
         performing work under this Agreement and, upon request by Licensee,
         shall furnish Certificates of Insurance evidencing such coverage.

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7.       During the term of this Agreement, Licensee shall:

         A.       Provide Licensor with modem connection to Licensee's computer
                  systems for the sole purpose of performing Maintenance
                  Services. Such connection shall be made only at times mutually
                  agreed by Licensee and Licensor. Licensor agrees that with
                  respect to any access of Licensee's computer system by
                  Licensor, whether in person or through modem connection,
                  Licensor shall not (i) access portions of the system that are
                  not necessary for performance of Maintenance Services; (ii)
                  access any data of customers of Licensee; (iii) disable any
                  virus checker or security program; or (iv) provide to
                  Licensee, through download or CD-ROM or other media, software
                  or data in electronic form that has not been examined with an
                  up-to-date commercial virus checking program shortly before
                  delivery to Licensee.

         B.       Provide adequate Level 1 support for MaxxSystem Program to
                  support Licensee customer base;

         C.       Ensure that only personnel properly trained in the operation
                  and use of the MaxxSystem Program and its associated equipment
                  call Licensor for direct phone support and that such personnel
                  have sufficient access and computer time when using such
                  service in order to implement the corrections suggested by
                  Licensor;

         D.       Install all application updates and MaxxSystem Program
                  Upgrades within 90 days of delivery of same, provided that
                  Licensee is not obligated to install or use any upgrade for
                  which Licensor requires an extra fee that Licensee has not
                  agreed to pay;

         E.       Perform and install all  diagnostic  activities  and  routines
                  recommended by Licensor;

         F.       Ensure the proper MaxxSystem Program environment is maintained
                  and that Licensee's personnel who have access to the
                  MaxxSystem Program are properly trained in the operation and
                  usage of the MaxxSystem Program and the associated equipment;
                  and

         G.       Provide, at no cost to Licensor, adequate safeguards for the
                  protection of Licensee's data and files while the Maintenance
                  Services are being performed on the MaxxSystem Program.

8.       Licensee shall be solely responsible to ensure that all of its files
         and data are adequately duplicated or documented, and Licensor shall in
         no way be responsible for Licensee's failure to do so, nor for the
         costs or expenses of reconstructing data which are lost, destroyed or
         otherwise damaged or rendered useless during the course of or as the
         result of the performance of any services under this Agreement.

9.       All data or other information of Licensee or Licensee's customers to
         which Licensor is exposed in the course of providing Maintenance
         Services shall be treated as confidential in accordance with the terms
         of the article on confidentiality in the License Agreement.

10.      Licensor warrants that the services provided under this Agreement will
         be performed in professional fashion and in accordance with good
         quality practices in the software industry.

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     EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, LICENSOR MAKES NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR
     WARRANTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WHATSOEVER WHETHER STATUTORY, EXPRESSED OR
     IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OR MERCHANTABILITY AND
     FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND ALL WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF
     DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF each of the parties has caused its duly authorized
officer to execute this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

LICENSOR                                    LICENSEE

SUMMUS, LTD.                                HIGH SPEED NET SOLUTIONS, INC.
By: /s/ Dr. Bjorn Jawerth                   By: /s/ Andrew L. Fox
                                            (Signature)
Date: March 13, 2000                        Date:  February 18, 2000
Name: Dr. Bjorn Jawerth                     Name:  Andrew L. Fox
Title:  CEO                                 Title:  Acting President and CEO,
                                                    Executive Vice President