Document:

EURO 200,000,000

                          WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                          12-3/4% Senior Notes Due 2010

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                                                March 27, 2000

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON (EUROPE) LIMITED
SALOMON BROTHERS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
GOLDMAN SACHS INTERNATIONAL
MERRILL LYNCH INTERNATIONAL
BNY CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
As Representatives of the several Purchasers
   c/o Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited,
   One Cabot Square
   London E14 40J
   United Kingdom

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     1. Introductory. Winstar Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Issuer" or "Winstar"), has agreed, subject to the terms and conditions stated
herein, to issue and sell to the several initial purchasers named in Schedule A
hereto (the "Purchasers") Euro 200,000,000 principal amount of the Issuer's
12-3/4% Senior Notes Due 2010 (the "Offered Securities"). The Offered Securities
will be issued under an indenture, dated as of April 10, 2000 (the "Indenture")
between the Issuer and United States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee (the
"Trustee"). The United States Securities Act of 1933 is herein referred to as
the "Securities Act."

     The Issuer has made a tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to purchase for
cash any and all of (i) its outstanding 14% Senior Discount Notes Due 2005 (the
"14% Notes") and 14-1/2% Senior Deferred Interest Notes Due 2005 (the "14-1/2%
Notes"), (ii) the outstanding 12-1/2% Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2004
(the "WEC Notes") of Winstar Equipment Corp., a Delaware corporation ("WEC"),
and (iii) the outstanding 12-1/2% Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2004 (the
"WEC II Notes" and, together with the 14% Notes, the 14-1/2% Notes and the WEC
Notes, the "Existing Senior Notes") of Winstar Equipment II Corp., a Delaware
corporation ("WEC II"), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated March 3, 2000
(the "Tender Offer Statement"). The Issuer will amend (the "Issuer Proposed
Senior Notes Amendments") certain provisions of the indenture governing the 14%
Notes dated October 23, 1995 (the "14% Notes Indenture") between the Issuer and
United States Trust Company of New York, as trustee ("U.S. Trust"), and the
indenture governing the 14-1/2% Notes dated March 1, 1997 (the "14-1/2% Notes

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                                                                               2

Indenture") between the Issuer and U.S. Trust. The Issuer and WEC will amend
(the "WEC Proposed Amendments") certain provisions of the indenture governing
the WEC Notes dated March 1, 1997 (the "WEC Notes Indenture") among the Issuer,
WEC and U.S. Trust. The Issuer and WEC II will amend (the "WEC II Proposed
Amendments" and, together with the Issuer Proposed Senior Notes Amendments and
the WEC Proposed Amendments, the "Proposed Senior Notes Amendments") the
indenture governing the WEC II Notes dated August 1, 1997 (the "WEC II Notes
Indenture" and, together with the 14% Notes Indenture, the 14-1/2% Notes
Indenture and the WEC Notes Indenture, the "Senior Notes Indentures") among the
Issuer, WEC II and U.S. Trust. The Proposed Senior Notes Amendments are
contained in supplements to the Senior Notes Indentures executed by the Issuer
and U.S. Trust; the Issuer, WEC and U.S. Trust; and the Issuer, WEC II and U.S.
Trust, as the case may be (the "Senior Notes Supplemental Indentures"). The
Senior Notes Supplemental Indentures were executed on March 17, 2000, and the
Proposed Senior Notes Amendments will become operative when the Existing Senior
Notes are accepted for purchase by the Issuer pursuant to the Tender Offer (the
first date on which such event occurs being herein referred to as the
"Settlement Date").

     The Issuer has made an offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange (i) its
dollar-denominated Senior Notes due 2010 (the "2010 Senior Notes") or dollar-
denominated Senior Discount Notes due 2010 (the "Senior Discount Notes"), or any
combination thereof, for any and all of its outstanding 10% Senior Subordinated
Notes Due 2008 (the "10% Notes") and (ii) a combination of 2010 Senior Notes and
Senior Discount Notes to be determined by the Issuer for any and all of its
outstanding 15% Senior Subordinated Deferred Interest Notes Due 2007 (the "15%
Notes") and its 11% Senior Subordinated Deferred Interest Notes Due 2008 (the
"11% Notes" and, together with the 10% Notes and the 15% Notes, the "Existing
Senior Subordinated Notes"), held by qualified institutional buyers and
institutional accredited investors under the Securities Act that can make the
investment representations set forth in the consent and letter of transmittal
(the "Qualified Offeree Transmittal Letter") circulated in connection with the
Exchange Offer ("Qualified Offerees"), on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Confidential Offering Circular and Consent
Solicitation Statement dated March 3, 2000, as supplemented March 17, 2000,
March 21, 2000, March 22, 2000 and March 27, 2000 (the "Exchange Offer
Circular"). Each of the 2010 Senior Notes and the Senior Discount Notes will be
issued under a separate indenture, each dated as of April 10, 2000 (collectively
the "Dollar Notes Indentures") between the Issuer and United States Trust
Company of New York, as Trustee (the "Trustee"). All 2010 Senior Notes and
Senior Discount Notes to be issued in connection with the Exchange Offer and all
2010 Senior Notes and Senior Discount Notes to be issued to Specified Holders
(and their transferees) in exchange for Exchange Debentures (whether pursuant to
the Preferred Stock Transaction Agreements or otherwise) are referred to herein
as the "Dollar Notes". In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Issuer will
amend (the "Proposed Senior Subordinated Notes Amendments") certain provisions
of (i) the indenture governing the 10% Notes dated as of March 15, 1998 (the
"10% Notes Indenture") between the Issuer and U.S. Trust, (ii) the indenture
governing the 15% Notes dated as of October 1, 1997 (the "15% Notes Indenture")
between the Company and U.S. Trust and (iii) the indenture governing the 11%
Notes dated as of March 15, 1998 (the "11% Notes Indenture" and, together with
the 10% Notes Indenture and the 11% Notes Indenture, the "Existing Senior
Subordinated Notes Indentures") between the Company and U.S. Trust. The Proposed
Senior Subordinated Notes Amendments are contained in supplements to each of the
Existing Senior Subordinated Notes Indentures between the Company and U.S. Trust
(the "Senior Subordinated Notes Supplemental Indentures" and, together with the
Senior Notes Supplemental Indentures, the "Supplemental Indentures"). The Senior

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                                                                         3

Subordinated Notes Supplemental Indentures were executed prior to the date
hereof, and the Proposed Senior Subordinated Notes Amendments will become
operative when the Existing Subordinated Notes are accepted for exchange by the
Company pursuant to the Exchange Offer on the Settlement Date.

     The Issuer has entered into agreements (the "Preferred Stock Transaction
Agreements") with the holders (the "Specified Holders") of more than 75% of the
outstanding shares of the Series C 14 1/4% Senior Cumulative Exchangeable
Preferred Stock due 2007 of the Issuer (the "Series C Preferred Stock"),
including (A) an agreement by the Specified Holders to waive any defaults under
the certificate of designation governing the Series C Preferred Stock resulting
from the Refinancing (as defined) and certain other events, (B) the Issuer's
agreement to issue, on June 15, 2000, exchange debentures (the "Exchange
Debentures") in exchange for all of the Series C Preferred Stock, as provided by
the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock certificate of designation, (C) an
agreement by the Specified Holders that certain restrictive covenants and
default provisions in the indenture (the "Exchange Debentures Indenture") that
will govern the Exchange Debentures will be eliminated and (D) the Company's
agreement to exchange all of the Exchange Debentures held by the Specified
Holders for 2010 Senior Notes and/or Senior Discount Notes on June 16, 2000 and
the Holders' agreement to participate in such exchange.

     The Tender Offer, the Exchange Offer, the transactions (the "Preferred
Stock Transaction") contemplated by the Preferred Stock Transactions Agreements
and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are referred to herein
collectively as the "Refinancing".

     The Issuer hereby agrees with the several Purchasers as follows:

     2. Representations and Warranties of the Issuer. The Issuer represents and
warrants to, and agrees with, the several Purchasers that:

     (a) A preliminary offering circular and an offering circular relating to
the Offered Securities to be offered by the Purchasers have been prepared by the
Issuer. Such preliminary offering circular and offering circular, as both are
supplemented as of the date of this Agreement, together with any other document
approved by the Issuer for use in connection with the contemplated resale of the
Offered Securities are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Offering
Document." On the date thereof, the Offering Document does not include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to
statements in or omissions from the Offering Document based upon written
information furnished to the Issuer by any Purchaser through Credit Suisse First
Boston Europe (Limited) ("CSFBEL") specifically for use therein, it being
understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such
in Section 7(b). Winstar's Annual Report on Form 10-K most recently filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and all subsequent
reports (collectively, the "Exchange Act Reports") which have been filed by
Winstar with the Commission or sent to stockholders pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), when they were filed with the
Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

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                                                                           4

     (b) The Issuer has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and
authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Offering Document; and the Issuer is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership
or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification,
except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing
would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other),
business, properties or results of operations of the Issuer and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse Effect"). The Issuer is
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in the State of New York.

     (c) Each Significant Subsidiary (as defined in Regulation S-X under the
Exchange Act) of the Issuer has been duly incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Offering Document; and each subsidiary
of the Issuer is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good
standing in all other jurisdictions in which its owner ship or lease of property
or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent
that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a
Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each
subsidiary of the Issuer has been duly authorized and validly issued and is
fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital stock of each subsidiary owned by
the Issuer, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens,
encumbrances and defects.

     (d) Each of the Indenture, the Dollar Notes Indentures and the Registration
Rights Agreement (as defined below) has been duly authorized; the Offered
Securities and the Dollar Notes have been duly authorized; and when the Offered
Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing
Date (as defined below) and the Dollar Notes are delivered in exchange for
existing Senior Subordinated Notes in the Exchange Offer or in exchange for
Exchange Debentures, the Indenture, the Dollar Notes Indentures and the
Registration Rights Agreement will have been duly executed and delivered, such
Offered Securities and Dollar Notes will have been duly executed, authenticated,
issued and delivered and will conform, in all material respects, to the
descriptions thereof contained in the Offering Document and the Indenture (in
the case of the Offered Securities) and the offering circular (the "Dollar Notes
Offering Circular") in respect of the concurrent private placement of 2010
Senior Notes and Senior Discount Notes (in the case of the Dollar Notes), the
Registration Rights Agreement and such Offered Securities and Dollar Notes will
constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
and, with respect to the Registration Rights Agreement, except that rights to
indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal and state securities laws
and public policy considerations.

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                                                                               5

     (e) Except as contemplated by this Agreement or as disclosed in the
Offering Document, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between
the Issuer and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the
Issuer or any Purchaser for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or other like
payment in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (f) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with, any
govern mental agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of
the Tender Offer, the Exchange Offer, the Preferred Stock Transaction or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the issuance and
sale of the Offered Securities by the Issuer, other than as may be required
under the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Commission
thereunder with respect to the Registration Rights Agreement among the Issuer
and the Purchasers to be dated as of the Closing Date (the "Registration Rights
Agreement") and the transactions contemplated there under, and such as may be
required by securities or blue sky laws of any state of the United States or of
any foreign jurisdiction in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered
Securities.

     (g) The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture, the Dollar
Notes Indentures, the Registration Rights Agreement and this Agreement, the
consummation of the Tender Offer, the Exchange Offer, and the Preferred Stock
Transaction, and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities and the Dollar
Notes and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not result in a
breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a
default under, (i) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental
agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the
Issuer or any subsidiary of the Issuer or any of their properties, (ii) any
agreement or instrument to which the Issuer or any such subsidiary is a party or
by which the Issuer or any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the
properties of the Issuer or any such subsidiary is subject, or (iii) the charter
or by-laws of the Issuer or any such subsidiary, except, in the case of clause
(i) or (ii), such breaches, violations or defaults that individually or in the
aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Issuer has full
corporate power and authority to consummate the Refinancing, including, without
limitation, to authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities to be sold by
the Issuer as contemplated by this Agreement and the Dollar Notes as
contemplated by the Exchange Offer Circular.

     (h) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Issuer.

     (i) Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, and except for liens
granted under the Issuer's accounts receivables securitization facility, the
Issuer and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real
properties and all other properties and assets owned by them, in each case free
from liens, encumbrances and defects that would materially affect the value
thereof or materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them;
and, except as disclosed in the Offering Document, the Issuer and its
subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property under valid and enforce
able leases with no exceptions that would materially interfere with the use made
or to be made thereof by them.

     (j) The Issuer and its subsidiaries possess adequate certificates,
authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or bodies
necessary to conduct the business now operated by them and have not received any
notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
certificate, authority or permit that, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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                                                                              6

     (k) No labor dispute with the employees of the Issuer or any of its
subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, is imminent that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (l) The Issuer and its subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on
reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to
inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other
intellectual property (collectively, "intellectual property rights") necessary
to conduct the business as now operated by them, or used in the conduct of the
business as now operated by them, except to the extent that the failure to own
or possess or the inability to acquire such intellectual property rights would
not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and the
Issuer has not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted
rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if
determined adversely to the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (m) Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, neither the Issuer nor
any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, rule, regulation,
decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or
foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic
substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or
human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, "environmental
laws"), owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance that
is subject to any environmental laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or
contamination pursuant to any environmental laws, or is subject to any claim
relating to any environmental laws, which violation, contamination, liability or
claim would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and
the Issuer is not aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a
claim.

     (n) Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, there are no pending
actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Issuer, any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, individually or in the
aggregate, could reason ably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or
to materially and adversely affect the ability of the Issuer to perform its
obligations under any of the Indentures, the Registration Rights Agreement or
this Agreement, to consummate the Tender Offer, the Exchange Offer or the
Preferred Stock Transaction or which are otherwise material in the context of
the sale of the Offered Securities; and, to the Issuer's knowledge, no such
actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated.

     (o) The financial statements included in the Offering Document present
fairly the financial position of the Issuer and its consolidated subsidiaries as
of the dates shown and their results of operations and cash flows for the
periods shown, and such financial statements, have been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a
consistent basis; and the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial
statements included in the Offering Document provide a reasonable basis for
presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions or
events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate
effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma columns therein reflect the
proper application of those adjustments to the corresponding historical
financial statement amounts.

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     (p) Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, since the date of the
latest audited financial statements included in the Offering Document, there has
been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a
prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other),
business, properties or results of operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole (it being understood that a change in the price of the Issuer's
common stock or the continuation of operating losses consistent with the
Issuer's historical results shall be deemed not to be, in and of themselves,
such a material adverse change), and, except as disclosed in or contemplated by
the Offering Document, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind
declared, paid or made by the Issuer on any class of its capital stock.

     (q) The Issuer is not an open-end investment company, unit investment trust
or face-amount certificate company that is or is required to be registered under
Section 8 of the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment
Company Act"), nor is it a closed-end investment company required to be
registered, but not registered, thereunder; and the Issuer is not and, after
giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities, the
application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Document and
the consummation of the Tender Offer, the Exchange Offer and the Preferred Stock
Transaction, will not be an "investment company" as defined in the Investment
Company Act.

     (r) No securities of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A(d)(3)
under the Securities Act) as the Offered Securities are listed on any national
securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in
a U.S. auto mated inter-dealer quotation system.

     (s) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the
Purchasers contained herein, the offer and sale of the Offered Securities in the
manner contemplated by this Agreement will be exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act; and it is not necessary to qualify an
indenture in respect of the Offered Securities under the United States Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), other than in
connection with the Issuer's obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement.

     (t) Neither the Issuer nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on
its or their behalf (i) has, within the six-month period prior to the date
hereof, offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. person (as such
terms are defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) the Offered
Securities or any security of the same class or series as the Offered Securities
or (ii) has offered or will offer or sell the Offered Securities (A) in the
United States by means of any form of general solicitation or general
advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act or (B)
with respect to any such securities sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S
("Regulation S") under the Securities Act, by means of any directed selling
efforts within the meaning of Rule 902(b) of Regulation S. The Issuer, its
affiliates and any person acting on their behalf have complied and will comply
with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S. The Issuer has not
entered and will not enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to the
distribution of the Offered Securities except for this Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement.

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     (u) The Issuer is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

     (v) The Issuer and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material
respects with the Communications Act of 1934 (as amended by the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, the "Communications Act") and with all
applicable rules, regulations and policies of the Federal Communications
Commission (the "FCC").

     (w) The Issuer has provided to the Purchasers a complete and accurate list
of all licenses held as of March 1, 2000 by the Issuer and its subsidiaries
(other than experimental licenses in the 38 GHz portions of the radio spectrum
and licenses granted to the Issuer or its subsidiaries or acquired from Local
Area Telecommunications, Inc. that are not in the 38 GHz portion of the radio
spectrum and proceedings affecting the service rules and licensing of Spectrum
in the 38 GHz band) by the FCC (the "Licenses"). All of the Licenses are
currently valid and in full force and effect. Neither the Issuer nor any of its
subsidiaries has any knowledge of any investigation, notice of apparent
liability, violation, forfeiture or other order or complaint issued by or before
any court or regulatory body, including the FCC, or of any other proceedings
(other than proceedings relating to the wireless communications industries
generally and proceedings affecting the service rules and licensing of spectrum
in the 38 GHz band) which could in any manner materially threaten or adversely
affect the validity or continued effectiveness of any of the Licenses, except
that, on March 12, 1998, several parties filed petitions for reconsideration of
the February 10, 1998 additional channel grants to the Issuer in each of
Atlanta, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New York, St. Louis,
Spokane and Tampa. On October 22, 1999, the FCC denied some of the petitions for
reconsideration and affirmed the grants. One petition for reconsideration
remains pending. In response to the FCC's denial of the petitions for
reconsideration, two parties filed a joint application for review requesting
that the FCC reconsider the grants. The Issuer filed an opposition to this
application which remains pending. In addition, on March 9, 1998, several
parties filed petitions for reconsideration of the FCC's 38 GHz Order, alleging,
among other things, that the February 10, 1998, license grants to the Issuer
were in violation of the FCC's processing rules. The Issuer filed a consolidated
opposition to these petitions. The FCC denied these petitions on August 23,
1999. However, several parties have filed petitions for review in the U.S. Court
of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

     In addition, on December 29, 1999, the FCC granted in part five Issuer
applications requesting additional channels in the following areas: Baltimore,
New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. On January 24, 2000, several
parties filed petitions for reconsideration of each of these grants. The Issuer
filed an opposition to these petitions which remains pending.

     In addition, on October 23, 1997, DCT Communications, Inc. filed a petition
for reconsideration seeking revocation of the Issuer's license in Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida. The Issuer opposed the petition. On January 21, 1999, the
FCC released an order denying DCT's petition for reconsideration. In response,
DCT filed an application for review which the Issuer opposed. The FCC denied the
application for review on February 22, 2000; however, DCT may seek review of the
FCC's decision in the courts.

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     (x) Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, no event has occurred
which (i) results in, or after notice or lapse of time or both would result in,
revocation, suspension, modification, non-renewal, impairment, restriction or
termination of, or order of forfeiture with respect to, any License the loss of
which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii)
materially and adversely affects or could reasonably be expected in the future
to materially adversely affect any of the rights of the Issuer or any of its
subsidiaries thereunder.

     (y) The Issuer and its subsidiaries have duly filed in a timely manner all
material filings, reports, applications, documents, instruments and information
required to be filed by them under the Communications Act, and all such filings
are true, correct and complete in all material respects.

     (z) Neither the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to
believe that any of the Licenses will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

     (aa) Each of the Supplemental Indentures has been duly authorized; and when
the Existing Senior Notes and the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes have been
delivered to the Issuer, WEC and WEC II, as the case may be, and paid for
pursuant to the Tender Offer and the Exchange Offer, respectively, on the
Settlement Date, the Supplemental Indentures will have been duly executed and
delivered.

     (bb) Each of the Tender Offer Statement and the Exchange Offer Circular (as
amended or supplemented as of the date hereof) does not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The pricing supplement contemplated by the
Exchange Offer Circular will not omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.

     3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities; Payment of
Underwriting Discount. On the basis of the representations, warranties and
agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Issuer hereby agrees to sell to the Purchasers, and the Purchasers
hereby agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Issuer, the
respective principal amounts of Offered Securities set forth opposite the names
of the Purchasers in Schedule A hereto, at an aggregate purchase price of 97.25%
of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest from April 10, 2000 to
the Closing Date.

     The Issuer hereby agrees to deliver against payment of the purchase price
the Offered Securities in the form of one or more permanent global securities in
definitive form (the "Global Securities") deposited with Citibank, N.A., as
common depositary (the "Common Depositary") for the Euroclear System
("Euroclear"), and Clearstream Banking ("Clearstream") and registered in the
name of a nominee of the Common Depositary. Interests in any permanent global
Securities will be held only in book- entry form through Euroclear or
Clearstream, except in the limited circumstances described in the Offering
Document. Payment for the Offered Securities shall be denominated on Euros and
made by the Purchasers in (same day) funds by wire transfer to an account in
Europe previously designated to CSFBEL by the Issuer at a bank acceptable to
CSFBEL, at the office of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Worldwide Plaza, 825 Eighth
Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10019-7475 at 10:00 A.M. (New York time), on April 10,
2000, or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter
as CSFBEL and the Issuer determine, such time being herein referred to as the
"Closing Date", against delivery to the Common Depositary of the Global
Securities representing all of the Offered Securities. The Global Securities
will be made available for examination at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore
at least 48 hours prior to the Closing Date.

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     4. Representations and Agreements by Purchasers; Resale by Purchasers.

     (a) Each Purchaser severally represents and warrants to the Issuer that it
is an "accredited investor" within the meaning of Regulation D under the
Securities Act.

     (b) Each Purchaser severally acknowledges that the Offered Securities have
not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold
within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons
except in accordance with Regulation S or pursuant to an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act. Each Purchaser severally
represents and agrees that it has offered and sold the Offered Securities, and
will offer and sell the Offered Securities only in accordance with Rule 903 or
Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A"). Accordingly, neither such
Purchaser nor its affiliates, nor any persons acting on its or their behalf,
have engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to the
Offered Securities, and such Purchaser, its affiliates and all persons acting on
its or their behalf have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions
requirement of Regulation S. Each Purchaser severally agrees that, at or prior
to confirmation of sale of the Offered Securities, other than a sale pursuant to
Rule 144A, such Purchaser will have sent to each distributor, dealer or person
receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases the
Offered Securities from it during the restricted period a confirmation or notice
to substantially the following effect:

          "The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S.
          Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered
          or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit
          of, U.S. persons (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii)
          otherwise until 40 days after the later of the date of the
          commencement of the offering and the closing date, except in either
          case in accordance with Regulation S (or Rule 144A if available) under
          the Securities Act."

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms used in this subsection (b) have the
meanings given to them by Regulation S.

     (c) Each Purchaser severally agrees that it and each of its affiliates has
not entered and will not enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to
the dis tribution of the Offered Securities except for any such arrangements
with the other Purchasers or affiliates of the other Purchasers or with the
prior written consent of the Issuer.

     (d) Each Purchaser severally agrees that it and each of its affiliates has
not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, the Offered Securities in the
United States by means of any form of general solicitation or general
advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act,
including, but not limited to (i) any advertisement, article, notice or other
communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast

<PAGE>
                                                                              11

over television or radio, or (ii) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have
been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising. Each Purchaser
severally agrees, with respect to resales made in reliance on Rule 144A of any
of the Offered Securities, to deliver either with the confirmation of such
resale or otherwise prior to settlement of such resale a notice to the effect
that the resale of such Offered Securities has been made in reliance upon the
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by
Rule 144A.

     (e) Each of the Purchasers severally represents and agrees that (i) it has
not offered or sold and prior to the date six months after the date of issue of
the Offered Securities will not offer or sell any Offered Securities to persons
in the United Kingdom except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them
in acquiring, hold ing, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or
agent) for the purposes of their businesses or otherwise in circumstances which
have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public in the United
Kingdom within the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995;
(ii) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the
Financial Services Act 1986 with respect to anything done by it in relation to
the Offered Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and
(iii) it has only issued or passed on and will only issue or pass on in the
United Kingdom any document received by it in connection with the issue of the
Offered Securities to a person who is of a kind described in Article 11(3) of
the Financial Services Act 1986 (Investment Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order
1996 or is a person to whom such document may otherwise lawfully be issued or
passed on.

     (f) Each Purchaser agrees that promptly following the completion of its
initial resale of all the Offered Securities purchased by such Purchaser
pursuant to this Agreement, it will notify CSFBEL thereof and CSFBEL will
promptly notify the Issuer thereafter.

     5. Certain Agreements of the Issuer. The Issuer agrees with the several
Purchasers that:

     (a) The Issuer will advise CSFBEL promptly of any proposal to amend or
supplement the Offering Document and will not effect such amendment or
supplementation without CSFBEL's consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld). If, at any time prior to the completion of the resale of
the Offered Securities by the Purchasers, any event occurs as a result of which
the Offering Document as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any such time to
amend or supplement the Offering Document to comply with any applicable law, the
Issuer promptly will notify CSFBEL of such event and promptly will prepare, at
its own expense, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or
omission or effect such compliance. Neither CSFBEL's consent to, nor the
Purchasers' delivery to offerees or investors of, any such amendment or
supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in
Section 6.

     (b) The Issuer will furnish to the Purchasers copies of the Offering
Document and all amendments and supplements to such document, in each case as
soon as available and in such quantities as the Purchasers reasonably request,
and the Issuer will furnish to CSFBEL on the Closing Date four copies of the
Offering Document signed by a duly authorized officer of the Issuer, one of
which will include the independent accountants' reports with respect to the
financial statements included therein manually signed by such independent
accountants. At any time when the Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, the Issuer will promptly furnish or cause to be furnished
to CSFBEL and, upon request, to each of the other Purchasers and, upon request

<PAGE>

                                                                              12

of holders and prospective purchasers of the Offered Securities, to such holders
and purchasers, copies of the information required to be delivered to holders
and prospective purchasers of the Offered Securities pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4)
under the Securities Act (or any successor provision thereto) in order to permit
compliance with Rule 144A in connection with resales by such holders of the
Offered Securities. The Issuer will pay the expenses of printing and
distributing to the Purchasers all such documents.

     (c) The Issuer will use its best efforts to arrange for the qualification
of the Offered Securities for sale and the determination of their eligibility
for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions in the United States and
Canada as CSFBEL reasonably designates and will continue such qualifications in
effect so long as required for the resale of the Offered Securities by the
Purchasers; provided, however, that the Issuer will not be required to qualify
as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in
any such jurisdiction.

     (d) During the period of five years after the Closing Date, the Issuer will
furnish to CSFBEL and, upon request, to each of the other Purchasers, as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of the Issuer's annual
report to stockholders for such year; and the Issuer will furnish to CSFBEL and,
upon request, to each of the other Purchasers (i) as soon as available, a copy
of each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Issuer filed with the
Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to stockholders and (ii) from time
to time, such other publicly available information concerning the Issuer as the
Purchasers may reasonably request.

     (e) During the period of two years after the Closing Date, the Issuer will,
upon request, furnish to the Purchasers and any holder of Offered Securities a
copy of the restrictions on transfer applicable to the Offered Securities.

     (f) During the period of two years after the Closing Date, the Issuer will
not, and will not permit any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the
Securities Act) to, resell any of the Offered Securities that have been
reacquired by any of them.

     (g) During the period of two years after the Closing Date, the Issuer will
not be or become, an open-end investment company, unit investment trust or
face-amount certificate company that is or is required to be registered under
Section 8 of the Investment Company Act, and the Issuer is not, or will not be
or become, a closed-end investment company required to be registered, but not
registered, under the Investment Company Act.

     (h) The Issuer will pay all expenses incidental to the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement and the Indentures, including (i) the fees and
expenses of the Trustee, any paying agent or depositary and their respective
professional advisers; (ii) all expenses in connection with the execution,
issue, authentication, packaging and initial delivery of the Offered Securities,
the preparation and printing of this Agreement, the Offered Securities, the
Indenture, the Offering Document and amendments and supplements thereto, and any
other document relating to the issuance, offer, sale and delivery of the Offered
Securities; (iii) the cost of qualifying the Offered Securities for trading in

<PAGE>

                                                                              13

The Private Offerings, Resale and Trading through Automated Linkages (PORTAL)
market, the cost of listing the Offered Securities on the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange and any expenses incidental thereto; (iv) the cost of any advertising
approved by the Issuer in connection with the issue of the Offered Securities;
(v) any expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred in
connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws
of such jurisdictions in the United States and Canada as CSFBEL designates and
the printing of memoranda relating thereto; (vi) any fees charged by investment
rating agencies for the rating of the Offered Securities; and (vii) all expenses
incurred in distributing the Offering Document (including any amendments and
supplements thereto) to the Purchasers. The Issuer will also pay or reimburse
the Purchasers (to the extent incurred by them) for all travel expenses of the
Issuer's officers and employees and any other expenses of the Issuer in
connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the
Offered Securities from the Purchasers.

     (i) In connection with the offering, until CSFBEL shall have notified the
Issuer and the other Purchasers of the completion of the resale of the Offered
Securities, neither the Issuer nor any of its affiliates has or will (unless
required by the terms of the indenture governing such Offered Securities),
either alone or with one or more other persons, bid for or purchase for any
account in which it or any of its affiliates has a beneficial interest any
Offered Securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any Offered
Securities; and neither they nor any of their affiliates will make bids or
purchases for the purpose of creating actual, or apparent, active trading in, or
of raising the price of, the Offered Securities.

     (j) The Issuer will not at any time offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge
or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any securities under
circumstances where such offer, sale, pledge, contract or disposition would
cause the exemption afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act or the safe
harbor of Regulation S thereunder to cease to be applicable to the offer and
sale of the Offered Securities.

     (k) The Issuer will cause each Offered Security to bear the legend set
forth in the form of Note attached as Exhibit 1 to the Rule 144A/ Regulation S
Appendix to the applicable Indenture until such legend shall no longer be
necessary or advisable because the Offered Securities are no longer subject to
the restrictions on transfer described therein.

     (l) The Issuer will cause the final Dollar Notes Offering Circular to be
delivered to each participant in the Exchange Offer.

     (m) The Issuer will use its best efforts in cooperation with the Purchasers
to list the Offered Securities on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

     6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Purchasers. The obligations of the
several Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Offered Securities will be
subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the
Issuer herein, to the accuracy of the certificates of officers of the Issuer

<PAGE>

                                                                              14

delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Issuer of
its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

     (a) The Purchasers shall have received a letter, dated the date of this
Agreement of Grant Thornton LLP, in agreed form, confirming that they are
independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and the
applicable published rules and regulations thereunder ("Rules and Regulations")
and stating to the effect that:

          (i) in their opinion the financial statements examined by them and
     included in the Offering Document comply as to form in all material
     respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act
     and the related published Rules and Regulations;

          (ii) on the basis of a reading of the latest available interim
     financial statements of the Issuer, inquiries of certain officials of the
     Issuer who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters and
     other specified procedures, nothing came to their attention that caused
     them to believe that:

               (A) at March 20, 2000, there was any change in the capital stock
          or paid-in capital, increase in long-term debt or any decreases in
          consolidated net current assets or stockholders' equity of the Issuer
          and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis as compared with amounts
          shown on the December 31, 1999 audited consolidated balance sheet
          included in the Offering Document; or

               (B) for the period from January 1, 2000 to March 20, 2000, there
          were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the
          preceding year, in consolidated operating revenues or any increases in
          the total or per-share amounts of net loss; or

               (C) the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial
          statements included in the Offering Document do not comply as to form
          in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
          of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations or the pro forma
          adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts
          in the compilation of those statements, except in all cases set forth
          in clauses (A) and (B) above for changes, increases or decreases which
          the Offering Document discloses have occurred or may occur or which
          are described in such letter; and

          (iii) they have compared specified dollar amounts (or percentages
     derived from such dollar amounts) and other financial information contained
     in the Offering Document (in each case to the extent that such dollar
     amounts, percentages and other financial information are derived from the
     general accounting records of the Issuer and its subsidiaries subject to
     the internal controls of the Issuer's accounting system or are derived
     directly from such records by analysis or computation) with the results
     obtained from inquiries, a reading of such general accounting records and
     other procedures specified in such letter and have found such dollar
     amounts, percentages and other financial information to be in agreement
     with such results, except as otherwise specified in such letter.

<PAGE>

                                                                              15

     (b) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall
not have occurred (i) a change in U.S. or international financial, political or
economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls as would, in
the reasonable judgment of CSFBEL, be likely to prejudice materially the success
of the proposed issue, sale or distribution of the Offered Securities, whether
in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market, or (ii)
(A) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in
the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of
operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries taken as one enterprise which, in
the judgment of CSFBEL, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or
inadvisable to proceed with completion of the offering or the sale of and
payment for the Offered Securities (it being understood that a change in the
price of the Issuer's common stock or the continuation of operating losses
consistent with the Issuer's historical results shall be deemed not to be, in
and of itself, a material adverse change); (B) any downgrading in the rating of
any debt securities of the Issuer by any "nationally recognized statistical
rating organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the
Securities Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under
surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of the Issuer (other
than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no
implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (C) any material
suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the New
York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such
exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Issuer on any
exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (D) any banking moratorium declared
by U.S. Federal or New York authorities; or (E) any outbreak or escalation of
major hostilities in which the United States is involved, any declaration of war
by Congress or any other substantial national or international calamity or
emergency if, in the judgment of CSFBEL, the effect of any such outbreak,
escalation, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or
inadvisable to proceed with completion of the offering or sale of and payment
for the Offered Securities.

     (c) The Purchasers shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date,
of Graubard Mollen & Miller, counsel for the Issuer, substantially to the effect
set forth in (i)-(ix) below, and of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, regulatory counsel
for the Issuer, substantially to the effect set forth in (x)-(xvii) below:

          (i) Issuer has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation
     in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate
     power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as
     described in the Offering Document;

          (ii) Each of the Indenture, the Dollar Notes Indentures and the
     Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized; the Offered
     Securities and the Dollar Notes have been duly authorized; and when the
     Offered Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to this Agreement on
     the Closing Date and the Dollar Notes are delivered in exchange for
     existing Senior Subordinated Notes in the Exchange Offer or in exchange for
     Exchange Debentures, the Indenture, the Dollar Notes Indentures and the
     Registration Rights Agreement will have been duly executed and delivered,
     such Offered Securities and Dollar Notes will have been duly executed,
     authenticated, issued and delivered and will conform, in all material
     respects, to the descriptions thereof contained in the Offering Document

<PAGE>

                                       16

     and the Indenture (in the case of the Offered Securities) and the Dollar
     Notes Offering Circular (in the case of the Dollar Notes), the Registration
     Rights Agreement and such Offered Securities and Dollar Notes will
     constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable
     in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
     fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
     applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
     equity principles; and, with respect to the Registration Rights Agreement,
     except that rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal
     and state securities laws and public policy considerations;

          (iii) The Issuer is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
     sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof
     as described in the Offering Document and the consummation of the Tender
     Offer, the Exchange Offer and the Preferred Stock Transaction, will not be
     an "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act;

          (iv) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with,
     any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the
     consummation of the Tender Offer, the Exchange Offer, the Preferred Stock
     Transaction or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in
     connection with the issuance or sale of the Offered Securities by the
     Issuer and the consummation of the transactions under the Registration
     Rights Agreement, other than as may be required under the Securities Act
     and the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder with respect to
     the Registration Rights Agreement and the transactions contemplated
     thereunder and such as may be required by securities or blue sky laws of
     the various states of the United States and of foreign jurisdictions in
     connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Securities;

          (v) The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture, the
     Dollar Notes Indentures, the Registration Rights Agreement and this
     Agreement, the consummation of the Tender Offer, the Exchange Offer and the
     Preferred Stock Transaction, and the issuance and sale of the Offered
     Securities and the Dollar Notes and compliance with the terms and
     provisions thereof will not result in a breach or violation of any of the
     terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, (A) any statute,
     rule or regulation or any order known to such counsel of any governmental
     agency or body or any court having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any
     subsidiary of the Issuer or any of its properties, (B) any agreement or
     instrument listed as an exhibit to the Issuer's Annual Report on Form 10-K
     most recently filed with the Commission or listed as an exhibit to or filed
     with any subsequent reports filed by the Issuer under the Exchange Act
     through the date of this Agreement, to which the Issuer or any such
     subsidiary is a party or by which the Issuer or any such subsidiary is
     bound or to which any of the properties of the Issuer or any such
     subsidiary is subject, or (C) the charter or by-laws of the Issuer or any
     such subsidiary, except, in the case of clause (A) or (B), breaches,
     violations or defaults that individually or in the aggregate would not have

<PAGE>

                                                                              17

     a Material Adverse Effect; and the Issuer has full power and corporate
     authority to authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities to be sold by
     the Issuer as contemplated by this Agreement and the Dollar Notes as
     contemplated by the Exchange Offer Circular and the Preferred Stock
     Transaction;

          (vi) Such counsel have no reason to believe that the Offering
     Document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the date thereof or
     as of the Closing Date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact
     or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
     under which they were made, not misleading; it being understood that such
     counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements or other
     financial data contained in or omitted from the Offering Document;

          (vii) The descriptions in the Offering Document of statutes, legal and
     governmental proceedings and contracts and other documents are accurate in
     all material respects and fairly present the information purported to be
     described therein;

          (viii) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
     by the Issuer;

          (ix) Based upon the accuracy of the representations and warranties of
     the Issuer set forth in Section 2(t) of this Agreement, of the Purchasers
     in Section 4 hereof, of the Qualified Offerees in the Qualified Offeree
     Transmittal Letter and of the Specified Holders in the Preferred Stock
     Transaction Agreements, it is not necessary in connection with (i) the
     offer, sale and delivery of the Offered Securities by the Issuer to the
     several Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) the resales of the
     Offered Securities by the several Purchasers in the manner contemplated by
     this Agreement, or (iii) the issuance of the Dollar Notes in the Exchange
     Offer or in exchange for Exchange Debentures held by the Specified Holders,
     to register the Offered Securities or the Dollar Notes under the Securities
     Act, and it is not necessary to qualify the Indenture or the Dollar Notes
     Indentures under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, other than in
     connection with the Issuer's obligations under the Registration Rights
     Agreement;

          (x) No prior or subsequent consent, approval, authorization or order
     of the FCC is required to be obtained, and no prior or subsequent notice to
     or filing with the FCC is required to be made, in connection with the
     offering of Offered Securities;

          (xi) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Issuer and its
     subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all material
     terms and conditions of each License;

<PAGE>

                                                                        18

          (xii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, all of the Licenses are
     currently valid and in full force and effect, and there is no
     investigation, notice of apparent liability, violation, forfeiture or other
     order of complaint issued by or before any court or regulatory body,
     including the FCC, or of any other proceedings (other than proceedings
     relating to the wireless communications industries generally and
     proceedings affecting the service rules and licensing of spectrum in the 38
     GHz band) which could in any manner materially threaten or adversely affect
     the validity or continued effectiveness of any of the Licenses;

          (xiii) Such counsel is not aware of any event or instance in which the
     Issuer was not in compliance with all applicable and material rules,
     regulations and policies of the FCC pertaining to the Licenses;

          (xiv) Such counsel is not aware of the occurrence of any event which
     (i) results in, or after notice or lapse of time or both would result in,
     revocation, suspension, modification, nonrenewal, impairment, restriction
     or termination of, or order of forfeiture with respect to, any License the
     loss of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
     Effect or (ii) materially and adversely affects or could reasonably be
     expected in the future to materially adversely affect any of the rights of
     the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries thereunder;

          (xv) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Issuer and its
     subsidiaries have duly filed in a timely manner all material filings,
     reports, applications, documents, instruments and information required to
     be filed by them under the Communications Act pertaining to the Licenses;

          (xvi) Such counsel is not aware of any reason to believe that any of
     the Licenses will not be renewed in the ordinary course; and

          (xvii) The FCC has the authority, under certain circumstances, to
     modify radio licenses that it has issued. On November 3, 1997, the FCC
     released an Order concerning the 38 GHz band adopting licensing, service
     and technical rules, and a plan to auction the remaining unlicensed
     portions of the 38 GHz band for commercial use. On February 20, 1998, a
     party filed a petition for reconsideration of the FCC's 38 GHz Order
     seeking review of the FCC's channelization and assignment of the 38 GHz
     band to ensure that spectrum remains available for satellite services. On
     reconsideration, the FCC declined to reserve spectrum in this band for
     satellite services.

          On December 23, 1998, the FCC issued an Order primarily designating
     the 38 GHz band for terrestrial wireless services. Several parties filed
     petitions for reconsideration of that decision seeking authority to use the
     38 GHz band for satellite services. On December 1, 1999, the FCC affirmed
     its Order on reconsideration. However, parties may seek review of the FCC's
     Order on reconsideration in the courts.

          The FCC may adopt changes to the existing and proposed regulations
     governing 38 GHz licensees, which could have an impact on the scope of the
     Licenses and the operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries. As of the
     date of such letter, and except as otherwise discussed in such letter, such
     counsel is not aware of any official FCC action that may permit or is
     likely to lead to the revocation, nonrenewal, modification, impairment,
     restriction, or suspension of any License or any right or authority
     thereunder in whole or in part.

<PAGE>

                                                                            19

     (d) The Purchasers shall have received from Cravath, Swaine & Moore,
counsel for the Purchasers, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date,
with respect to the incorporation of the Issuer, the validity of the Offered
Securities, the Offering Document, the exemption from registration for the offer
and sale of the Offered Securities by the Issuer to the several Purchasers and
the resales by the several Purchasers as contemplated hereby and other related
matters as CSFBEL may reason ably require, and the Issuer shall have furnished
to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of
enabling them to pass upon such matters.

     (e) The Purchasers shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing
Date, of the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President and a principal
financial or accounting officer of the Issuer in which such officers, to the
best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state that the
representations and warranties of the Issuer in this Agreement are true and
correct, that the Issuer has complied with all agreements and satisfied all
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the
Closing Date, and that, subsequent to the dates of the most recent financial
statements in the Offering Document there has been no material adverse change,
nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in
the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of
operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set
forth in or contemplated by the Offering Document or as described in such
certificate.

     (f) The Purchasers shall have received a letter, dated the Closing Date, of
Grant Thornton LLP which meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this
Section 6, except that the specified date referred to in such subsection will be
a date not more than five days prior to the Closing Date for the purposes of
this subsection.

     (g) Each of the Preferred Stock Transaction Agreements shall be in full
force and effect as of the Closing Date, and the Company and U.S. Trust shall
have entered into the supplemental indenture to the Exchange Debentures
Indenture contemplated by the Preferred Stock Transaction Agreements.

     (h) The commitment letter between the Issuer and Credit Suisse First
Boston, New York branch, Citicorp North America, Inc., The Bank of New York and
CIBC, Inc. dated as of March 9, 2000 with respect to the proposed $1.0 billion
credit facility of the Issuer shall be in full force and effect as of the
Closing Date.

     (i) Each of the Supplemental Indentures shall be in full force and effect
and the Proposed Senior Notes Amendments and the Proposed Senior Subordinated
Notes Amendments shall be effective.

     (j) The respective minimum tender conditions of the Tender Offer and the
Exchange Offer (as set forth in the Tender Offer Statement and the Exchange
Offer Circular, respectively) shall have been satisfied, and the Issuer shall
consummate the Tender Offer and the Exchange Offer concurrent with the closing
of the offering of the Offered Securities.

     (k) No restraining order or denial of an application for approval shall
have been issued and no litigation shall have been commenced or threatened with
respect to the Refinancing, and no development in any pending litigation with
respect to the Refinancing shall have occurred by or before any agency, court or
other governmental body of any jurisdiction, except for such orders, denials, or
proceedings as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

<PAGE>

                                                                           20

     (l) The Registration Rights Agreement shall have been executed and shall be
in full force and effect.

     The Issuer will furnish the Purchasers with such conformed copies of such
opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Purchasers reasonably
request. CSFBEL may in its sole discretion waive on behalf of the Purchasers
compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Purchasers hereunder,
whether in respect of the Closing Date or otherwise.

     7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Issuer will indemnify and hold
harmless each Purchaser, its directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls such Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act,
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Purchaser may become subject, under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any breach of any of the
representations and warranties of the Issuer contained herein or any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
Offering Document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related
preliminary offering circular, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, and will reimburse each Purchaser for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by each Purchaser in connection with investigating
or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses
are incurred; provided, however, that the Issuer will not be liable in any such
case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of
or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission
or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by such Purchaser
through CSFBEL specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that
the only such information consists of the information described as such in
subsection (b) below; provided further, however, that with respect to any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from
any preliminary offering circular, the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Purchaser that sold the
Offered Securities concerned to the person asserting any such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, to the extent that such sale was an initial resale by
such Purchaser and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Purchaser
results from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, at or
prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Offered Securities to such
person, a copy of the Offering Document if the Issuer had previously furnished
copies thereof to such Purchaser and such Offering Document corrected such
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission.

     (b) Each Purchaser will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold
harmless the Issuer, its directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Issuer within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act,
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Issuer may
become subject, under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the Offering Document, or any

<PAGE>

                                                                              21

amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary offering circular,
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state
therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in
each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by such
Purchaser specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Issuer in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are
incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information
furnished by any Purchaser consists of the following information in the Offering
Document furnished on behalf of the Purchasers: under the caption "Plan of
Distribution," (i) the first sentence of the third paragraph thereunder, (ii)
the second sentence of the seventh paragraph thereunder and (iii) the fifth,
ninth and tenth paragraphs thereunder.

     (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under
subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve
it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than
under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against
any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to
the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the
indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), be counsel
to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect
of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could
have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability
on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on
behalf of any indemnified party.

     (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b)
above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuer on the
one hand and the Purchasers on the other from the offering of the Offered
Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative

<PAGE>

                                                                              22

fault of the Issuer on the one hand and the Purchasers on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuer on the one hand and
the Purchasers on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the
total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses but after
deducting the Purchasers' discounts and commissions) received by the Issuer bear
to the total discounts and commissions received by the Purchasers from the
Issuer under this Agreement. The relative fault shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Issuer or the Purchasers and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in
the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this
subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no
Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total price at which the Offered Securities purchased by it were
resold exceeds the amount of any damages which such Purchaser has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission. The Purchasers' obligations in this subsection (d) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations
and not joint.

     (e) The obligations of the Issuer under this Section shall be in addition
to any liability which the Issuer may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the
same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Purchaser
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act; and the
obligations of the Purchasers under this Section shall be in addition to any
liability which the respective Purchasers may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls the
Issuer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

     8. Default of Purchasers. If any Purchaser or Purchasers default in their
obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder and the aggregate number of
shares of Offered Securities that such defaulting Purchaser or Purchasers agreed
but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of
the Offered Securities, CSFBEL may make arrangements satisfactory to the Issuer
for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any of
the Purchasers, but if no such arrangements are made by the Closing Date, the
non-defaulting Purchasers shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their
respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such
defaulting Purchasers agreed but failed to purchase. If any Purchaser or
Purchasers so default and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities
with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Offered Securities and arrangements
satisfactory to CSFBEL and the Issuer for the purchase of such Offered
Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default,
this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Purchaser or the Issuer, except as provided in Section 9. As used
in this Agreement, the term "Purchaser" includes any person substituted for a

<PAGE>

                                                                              23

Purchaser under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Purchaser
from liability for its default.

     9. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the
Issuer or its officers and of the several Purchasers set forth in or made
pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of
any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf
of any Purchaser, the Issuer or any of its representatives, officers or
directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment
for the Offered Securities. If for any reason the purchase of the Offered
Securities by the Purchasers is not consummated, the Issuer shall remain
responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by them pursuant to
Section 5 (other than with respect to a defaulting Purchaser) and the respective
obligations of the Issuer and the Purchasers pursuant to Section 7 shall remain
in effect. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Purchasers is not
consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8 or solely because of the occurrence of any event
specified in clause (C), (D) or (E) of Section 6(b)(ii), the Issuer will
reimburse the Purchasers for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and
disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the
offering of the Offered Securities.

     10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent
to the Purchasers will be mailed, delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the
Purchasers, c/o Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited, One Cabot Square,
London E14 40J, United Kingdom, Attention: Legal Department or, if sent to the
Issuer, will be mailed, delivered or electronically transmitted and confirmed to
it at 685 Third Avenue, Thirty- first Floor, New York, NY 10017, Attention:
Timothy Graham; provided, however, that any notice to a Purchaser pursuant to
Section 7 will be mailed, delivered or telecopied and confirmed to such
Purchaser.

     11. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the controlling
persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any right or
obligation hereunder, except that holders of Offered Securities shall be
entitled to enforce the agreements for their benefit contained in the second and
third sentences of Section 5(b) hereof against the Issuer as if such holders
were parties thereto.

     12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

     13. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles
of conflicts of laws.

     Each of the parties hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the
Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in
any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.

<PAGE>

     If the foregoing is in accordance with the Purchasers' understanding of our
agreement, kindly sign and return to us one of the counterparts hereof,
whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Issuer and the several
Purchasers in accordance with its terms.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                                /s/ Kenneth J. Zinghini
                                            By __________________________
                                               Name:  Kenneth J. Zinghini
                                               Title:  Senior Vice President

The foregoing Purchase Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date first above written.

         CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON (EUROPE) LIMITED

                /s/ Samantha J. Chippindall
         By _________________________________________
             Name:  Samantha J. Chippindall
             Title:  Vice President

         Acting on behalf of itself and as the
             Representative of the several
             Purchasers.

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A

                                                               Principal Amount
                                                                 of Offered
Initial Purchasers                                               Securities
------------------                                             -----------------
Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited..........          Euro  39,600,000

Salomon Brothers International Limited...............                39,600,000

Goldman Sachs International..........................                39,400,000

Merrill Lynch International..........................                39,400,000

BNY Capital Markets, Inc.............................                10,200,000

CIBC World Markets Corp..............................                 4,400,000

ABN AMRO Incorporated................................                 2,740,000

Barclays Bank plc....................................                 2,740,000

Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc.................                 2,740,000

Dresdner Bank AG London Branch.......................                 2,740,000

FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc...................                 2,740,000

J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd...........................                 2,740,000

RBC Dominion Securities Corporation..................                 2,740,000

Societe Generale.....................................                 2,740,000

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.............................                 2,740,000

Toronto Dominion Bank (Europe) Limited...............                 2,740,000
                                                               -----------------
Total................................................          Euro 200,000,000
                                                               ================

                                       A-1EXECUTION COPY
                                                               2008 SENIOR NOTES

================================================================================

                          WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                                     Issuer

                          12-1/2% Senior Notes Due 2008

                              --------------------

                                    INDENTURE

                           Dated as of April 10, 2000

                              ---------------------

                           UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY
                                   OF NEW YORK
                                     Trustee

================================================================================
<PAGE>

                              CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

  TIA                                                                Indenture
Section                                                              Section
-------                                                              ---------

310(a)(1)             ...................................            7.10
      (a)(2)          ...................................            7.10
      (a)(3)          ...................................            N.A.
      (a)(4)          ...................................            N.A.
      (b)             ...................................            7.08; 7.10
      (c)             ...................................            N.A.
311(a)                ...................................            7.11
      (b)             ...................................            7.11
      (c)             ...................................            N.A.
312(a)                ...................................            2.05
      (b)             ...................................            10.03
      (c)             ...................................            10.03
313(a)                ...................................            7.06
      (b)(1)          ...................................            N.A.
      (b)(2)          ...................................            7.06
      (c)             ...................................            10.02
      (d)             ...................................            7.06
314(a)                ...................................            4.02; 4.12
                                                                     10.02
      (b)             ...................................            N.A.
      (c)(1)          ...................................            10.04
      (c)(2)          ...................................            10.04
      (c)(3)          ...................................            N.A.
      (d)             ...................................            N.A.
      (e)             ...................................            10.05
      (f)             ...................................            4.12
315(a)                ...................................            7.01
      (b)             ...................................            7.05; 10.02
      (c)             ...................................            7.01
      (d)             ...................................            7.01
      (e)             ...................................            6.11
316(a)(last sentence) ...................................            2.08
      (a)(1)(A)       ...................................            6.05
      (a)(1)(B)       ...................................            6.04
      (a)(2)          ...................................            N.A.
      (b)             ...................................            6.07
317(a)(1)             ...................................            6.08
      (a)(2)          ...................................            6.09
      (b)             ...................................            2.04
318(a)                ...................................            10.01

                           N.A. means Not Applicable.

---------------
Note:  This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed
to be part of the Indenture.
<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                    ARTICLE 1

                   Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

SECTION 1.01.  Definitions.....................................................1
SECTION 1.02.  Other Definitions..............................................34
SECTION 1.03.  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act..............34
SECTION 1.04.  Rules of Construction..........................................35

                                    ARTICLE 2

                                 The Securities

SECTION 2.01.  Form and Dating................................................36
SECTION 2.02.  Execution and Authentication...................................36
SECTION 2.03.  Registrar and Paying Agent.....................................37
SECTION 2.04.  Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust............................37
SECTION 2.05.  Securityholder Lists...........................................38
SECTION 2.06.  Transfer and Exchange..........................................38
SECTION 2.07.  Replacement Securities.........................................38
SECTION 2.08.  Outstanding Securities; When Securities Disregarded............39
SECTION 2.09.  Temporary Securities...........................................40
SECTION 2.10.  Cancellation...................................................40
SECTION 2.11.  Defaulted Interest.............................................40
SECTION 2.12.  CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code Numbers............................40

                                    ARTICLE 3

                                   Redemption

                              INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

                                    ARTICLE 4

                                    Covenants

SECTION 4.01.  Payment of Securities..........................................41
SECTION 4.02.  SEC Reports....................................................41
SECTION 4.03.  Limitation on Indebtedness.....................................41
SECTION 4.04.  Limitation on Restricted Payments..............................46
SECTION 4.05.  Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted
                 Group Members................................................51

<PAGE>

                                                                               2
SECTION 4.06.  Limitation on Sales of Assets and
                 Subsidiary Stock.............................................54
SECTION 4.07.  Limitation on Affiliate
                 Transactions.................................................58
SECTION 4.08.  Limitation on the Sale or
                 Issuance of Capital Stock of
                 Restricted Group Members.....................................60
SECTION 4.09.  Change of Control..............................................61
SECTION 4.10.  Limitation on Liens............................................63
SECTION 4.11.  Limitation on Sale/Leaseback
                 Transactions.................................................63
SECTION 4.12.  Compliance Certificate.........................................64
SECTION 4.13.  Further Instruments and Acts...................................64

                                    ARTICLE 5

                                Successor Company

SECTION 5.01.  When Company May Merge or Transfer
                 Assets.......................................................64

                                    ARTICLE 6

                              Defaults and Remedies

SECTION 6.01.  Events of Default..............................................66
SECTION 6.02.  Acceleration...................................................68
SECTION 6.03.  Other Remedies.................................................69
SECTION 6.04.  Waiver of Past Defaults........................................69
SECTION 6.05.  Control by Majority............................................69
SECTION 6.06.  Limitation on Suits............................................69
SECTION 6.07.  Rights of Holders to Receive
                 Payment......................................................70
SECTION 6.08.  Collection Suit by Trustee.....................................70
SECTION 6.09.  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim...............................70
SECTION 6.10.  Priorities.....................................................71
SECTION 6.11.  Undertaking for Costs..........................................71
SECTION 6.12.  Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws...............................72

                                    ARTICLE 7

                                     Trustee

SECTION 7.01.  Duties of Trustee..............................................72
SECTION 7.02.  Rights of Trustee..............................................73

<PAGE>

                                                                               3

SECTION 7.03.  Individual Rights of Trustee...................................74
SECTION 7.04.  Trustee's Disclaimer...........................................74
SECTION 7.05.  Notice of Defaults.............................................74
SECTION 7.06.  Reports by Trustee to Holders..................................74
SECTION 7.07.  Compensation and Indemnity.....................................75
SECTION 7.08.  Replacement of Trustee.........................................76
SECTION 7.09.  Successor Trustee by Merger....................................77
SECTION 7.10.  Eligibility; Disqualification..................................77
SECTION 7.11.  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company..............77

                                    ARTICLE 8

                       Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance

SECTION 8.01.  Discharge of Liability on Securities;
                 Defeasance...................................................78
SECTION 8.02.  Conditions to Defeasance.......................................79
SECTION 8.03.  Application of Trust Money.....................................80
SECTION 8.04.  Repayment to Company...........................................80
SECTION 8.05.  Indemnity for Government Obligations...........................81
SECTION 8.06.  Reinstatement..................................................81

                                    ARTICLE 9

                                   Amendments

SECTION 9.01.  Without Consent of Holders.....................................81
SECTION 9.02.  With Consent of Holders........................................82
SECTION 9.03.  Compliance with Trust Indenture Act............................83
SECTION 9.04.  Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers..................83
SECTION 9.05.  Notation on or Exchange of Securities..........................83
SECTION 9.06.  Trustee To Sign Amendments.....................................84
SECTION 9.07.  Payment for Consent............................................84

                                   ARTICLE 10

                                  Miscellaneous

SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls...................................84
SECTION 10.02. Notices........................................................85
SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders....................85
<PAGE>

                                                                               4

SECTION 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.............85
SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in
                 Certificate or Opinion.......................................86
SECTION 10.06. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar...................86
SECTION 10.07. Legal Holidays.................................................86
SECTION 10.08. Governing Law..................................................87
SECTION 10.09. No Recourse Against Others.....................................87
SECTION 10.10. Successors.....................................................87
SECTION 10.11. Multiple Originals.............................................87
SECTION 10.12. Table of Contents; Headings....................................87

Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix

Exhibit 1 - Form of Face of Initial Security

Exhibit A - Form of Face of Exchange Security or Private
            Exchange Security
<PAGE>

                                    INDENTURE dated as of April 10, 2000,
                           between WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Delaware
                           corporation (the "Company"), and UNITED STATES TRUST
                           COMPANY OF NEW YORK, a New York corporation (the
                           "Trustee").

                  Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other
party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Company's
Initial Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities
(collectively, the "Securities"):

                                    ARTICLE 1

                   Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

                  SECTION 1.01.  Definitions.

                  "Acquired Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of an entity
outstanding on the date on which an interest in such entity is acquired, by
merger or otherwise (other than Indebtedness Incurred in connection with, or to
provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to
consummate, the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which such
entity was acquired).

                  "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person,
directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the
management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms
"controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. For
purposes of Sections 4.04, 4.06 and 4.07 only, "Affiliate" shall also mean any
beneficial owner (other than Credit Suisse First Boston Private Equity Division
and any Affiliate of Credit Suisse First Boston Private Equity Division) of
Capital Stock representing 10% or more of the total voting power of the Voting
Stock (on a fully diluted basis) of the Company or of rights or warrants to
purchase such Capital Stock (whether or not currently exercisable) and any
Person who would be an Affiliate of any such beneficial owner pursuant to the
first sentence hereof.

                  "Asset Disposition" means any sale, lease,
<PAGE>

                                                                               2

transfer or other disposition (or series of related sales, leases, transfers or
dispositions) by the Company or any Restricted Group Member, including any
disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction (each
referred to for the purposes of this definition as a "disposition"), of:

                  (1) any shares of Capital Stock of a Restricted Group Member
         (other than directors' qualifying shares or shares required by
         applicable law to be held by a Person other than the Company or a
         Restricted Group Member);

                  (2) all or substantially all the assets of any division or
         line of business of the Company or any Restricted Group Member; or

                  (3) any other assets of the Company or any Restricted Group
         Member outside of the ordinary course of business of the Company or
         such Restricted Group Member

(other than, in the case of clauses (1), (2) and (3)

                           (A) a disposition by a Restricted Group Member to the
                  Company or by the Company or a Restricted Group Member to a
                  Restricted Group Member;

                           (B) for purposes of Section 4.06 only, a disposition
                  that constitutes a Restricted Payment permitted by Section
                  4.04 or a Permitted Investment;

                           (C) for purposes of Section 4.06 only, a sale of
                  shares of Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary for Fair
                  Market Value;

                           (D) for purposes of Section 4.06 only, a disposition
                  of Receivables in a Qualified Receivables Transaction; and

                           (E) a disposition of assets with a fair market value
                  of less than $250,000 in a single transaction or series of
                  related transactions).

                  "Attributable Debt" in respect of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction
means, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the
interest rate borne by the Securities, compounded annually) of the total
obligations of
<PAGE>

                                                                               3

the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included
in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease
has been extended).

                  "Average Life" means, as of the date of determination, with
respect to any Indebtedness, the quotient obtained by dividing:

                  (1) the sum of the products of numbers of years from the date
         of determination to the dates of each successive scheduled principal
         payment of or redemption or similar payment with respect to such
         Indebtedness multiplied by the amount of such payment by

                  (2) the sum of all such payments.

                  "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the
Company or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.

                  "Business Day" means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.

                  "Capital Lease Obligation" means an obligation that is
required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease for financial
reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of Indebtedness
represented by such obligation shall be the capitalized amount of such
obligation determined in accordance with GAAP; and the Stated Maturity thereof
shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such
lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the
lessee without payment of a penalty.

                  "Capital Stock" of any Person means any and all shares,
interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other
equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person,
including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible
into such equity.

                  "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the
following events:

                  (1) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
         14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders,
         is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and
         13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of
<PAGE>

                                                                               4

         this clause (1) such person shall be deemed to have "beneficial
         ownership" of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire,
         whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage
         of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the total voting
         power of the Voting Stock of the Company; provided, however, that the
         Permitted Holders beneficially own (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and
         13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate
         a lesser percentage of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of
         the Company than such other person and do not have the right or ability
         by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for
         election a majority of the Board of Directors (for the purposes of this
         clause (1), such other person shall be deemed to beneficially own any
         Voting Stock of a Person (the "specified person") held by any other
         Person (the "parent entity"), if such other person is the beneficial
         owner (as defined above in this clause (1)), directly or indirectly, of
         more than 35% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent
         entity and the Permitted Holders beneficially own (as defined in this
         proviso), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage
         of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity and do
         not have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to
         elect or designate for election a majority of the board of directors of
         such parent entity);

                  (2) individuals who on the Issue Date constituted the Board of
         Directors (together with any new directors whose election by such Board
         of Directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of
         the Company was approved by a vote of 66-2/3% of the directors of the
         Company then still in office who were either directors on the Issue
         Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
         approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of
         Directors then in office;

                  (3) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or
         dissolution of the Company; or

                  (4) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into
         another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the
         Company, or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the
         Company (determined on a consolidated basis) to another Person (other
         than, in all such cases, a Person that is controlled by the Permitted
         Holders), other than a transaction following
<PAGE>

                                                                               5

         which in the case of a merger or consolidation trans action, securities
         that represented 100% of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately
         prior to such trans action (or other securities into which such
         securities are converted as part of such merger or consolidation
         transaction) constitute at least a majority of the voting power of the
         Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation
         transaction.

                  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  "Company" means the party named as such in this Indenture
until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor and, for
purposes of any provision contained herein and required by the TIA, each other
obligor on the indenture securities.

                  "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for any period, the
total interest expense of the Company and its Restricted Group Members
(including the total interest expense of unconsolidated Permitted International
Joint Ventures), plus, to the extent not included in such total interest
expense, and to the extent incurred by the Company or its Restricted Group
Members, without duplication:

                  (1) interest expense attributable to capital leases and the
         interest expense attributable to leases constituting part of a
         Sale/Leaseback Transaction;

                  (2) amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost;

                  (3) capitalized interest;

                  (4) non-cash interest expenses;

                  (5) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed
         with respect to letters of credit and bankers' acceptance financing;

                  (6) net payments pursuant to Hedging Obligations;

                  (7) Preferred Stock dividends in respect of all Preferred
         Stock of Restricted Group Members held by Persons other than the
         Company or a Restricted Group Member (other than dividends payable
         solely in Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the issuer
         of such Preferred Stock);
<PAGE>

                                                                               6

                  (8) interest incurred in connection with Investments in
         discontinued operations;

                  (9) interest accruing on any Indebtedness of any other Person
         to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by (or secured by the
         assets of) the Company or any Restricted Group Member; and

                  (10) the cash contributions to any employee stock ownership
         plan or similar trust to the extent such contributions are used by such
         plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any Person (other than the
         Company) in connection with Indebtedness Incurred by such plan or
         trust;

excluding, however, a portion of any such interest expense or other item listed
in clauses (1) through (10) above to the extent included therein solely as an
expense or other item of an unconsolidated Permitted International Joint Venture
and equal to the Third Party Ownership Interest in such Permitted International
Joint Venture.

                  "Consolidated Leverage Ratio" as of any date of determination
means the ratio of (x) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Company and
its Restricted Group Members as of such date of determination to (y) EBITDA for
the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending at least 45 days prior
to such date of determination (the "Reference Period"); provided, however, that:

                  (1) if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate
         the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is an Incurrence of Indebtedness, the
         amount of such Indebtedness shall be calculated after giving effect on
         a pro forma basis to such Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness had been
         Incurred on the first day of the Reference Period;

                  (2) if the Company or any Restricted Group Member has repaid,
         repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness that was
         outstanding as of the end of such fiscal quarter or if any Indebtedness
         is to be repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise dis charged on the
         date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the
         Consolidated Leverage Ratio (other than, in each case, Indebtedness
         Incurred under any revolving credit agreement), the aggregate amount of
         Indebtedness shall be calculated on a pro forma basis and EBITDA shall
         be calculated as if the Company or such Restricted Group Member had not
         earned the interest income, if any, actually earned during the
<PAGE>

                                                                               7

         Reference Period in respect of cash or Temporary Cash Investments used
         to repay, repurchase, defease or otherwise discharge such Indebtedness;

                  (3) if since the beginning of the Reference Period the Company
         or any Restricted Group Member shall have made any Asset Disposition,
         the EBITDA for the Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount
         equal to the EBITDA (if positive) directly attributable to the assets
         which are the subject of such Asset Disposition for the Reference
         Period or increased by an amount equal to the EBITDA (if negative)
         directly attributable thereto for the Reference Period;

                  (4) if since the beginning of the Reference Period the Company
         or any Restricted Group Member (by merger or otherwise) shall have made
         an Investment in any Restricted Group Member (or any Person which
         becomes a Restricted Group Member) or an acquisition of assets which
         constitutes all or substantially all of a business or one or more
         operating units of a business, EBITDA for the Reference Period shall be
         calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the
         Incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition
         occurred on the first day of the Reference Period; and

                  (5) if since the beginning of the Reference Period any Person
         that subsequently became a Restricted Group Member or was merged with
         or into the Company or any Restricted Group Member since the beginning
         of such Reference Period shall have made any Asset Disposition, any
         Investment or acquisition of assets that would have required an
         adjustment pursuant to clause (3) or (4) above if made by the Company
         or a Restricted Group Member during the Reference Period, EBITDA for
         the Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect
         thereto as if such Asset Disposition, Investment or acquisition
         occurred on the first day of the Reference Period.

                  "Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the net
income (or loss) of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Group Members
and (without duplication) the Company's equity in the net income (or loss) of
any
<PAGE>

                                                                               8

unconsolidated Permitted International Joint Ventures; provided, however, that
there shall not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:

                  (1) any net income (or loss) of any Person (other than the
         Company) if such Person is not a Restricted Group Member, except that:

                           (A) subject to the exclusions contained in clauses
                  (4) and (7) below, the Company's equity in the net income of
                  any such Person for such period shall be included in such
                  Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash
                  actually distributed by such Person during such period to the
                  Company or a Restricted Group Member as a dividend or other
                  distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other
                  distribution paid to a Restricted Group Member, to the
                  limitations contained in clause (3) below); and

                           (B) the Company's equity in a net loss of any such
                  Person for such period shall be included in determining such
                  Consolidated Net Income;

                  (2) any net income (or loss) of any Person acquired by the
         Company, a Subsidiary or a Permitted International Joint Venture in a
         pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the date of
         such acquisition;

                  (3) any net income (or loss) of any Restricted Group Member if
         such Restricted Group Member is subject to restrictions, directly or
         indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions
         by such Restricted Group Member, directly or indirectly, to the
         Company, except that:

                           (A) subject to the exclusions contained in clauses
                  (4) and (7) below, the Company's equity in the net income of
                  any such Restricted Group Member for such period shall be
                  included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate
                  amount of cash distributed or capable of being distributed by
                  such Restricted Group Member during such period to the Company
                  or another Restricted Group Member as a dividend or other
                  distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other
                  distribution paid to another Restricted Group Member, to the
                  limitation contained in this clause); and
<PAGE>

                                                                               9

                           (B) the Company's equity in a net loss of any such
                  Restricted Group Member for such period shall be included in
                  determining such Consolidated Net Income;

                  (4) any gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or other
         disposition of any assets of the Company, its consolidated Subsidiaries
         or any other Person (including pursuant to any sale-and-leaseback
         arrangement) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary
         course of business and any gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or
         other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person;

                  (5) extraordinary gains or losses;

                  (6) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles
         after the Issue Date; and

                  (7) to the extent not otherwise excluded in accordance with
         GAAP, the net income (or loss) of any unconsolidated Permitted
         International Joint Venture in an amount that corresponds to the Third
         Party Ownership Interest in the income of such Permitted International
         Joint Venture on the last day of such period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purposes of Section 4.04 only, there
shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any repurchases, repayments or
redemptions of Investments, proceeds realized on the sale of the Investments or
return of capital to the Company or a Restricted Group Member to the extent such
repurchases, repayments, redemptions, proceeds or returns increase the amount of
Restricted Payments permitted under such covenant pursuant to Section
4.04(a)(3)(D).

                  "Currency Agreement" means, in respect of a Person, any
foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement
designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency values.

                  "Default" means any event which is, or after notice or passage
of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

                  "Discount Notes" means the Company's 14-3/4% Senior Discount
Notes due 2010.

                  "Disqualified Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any
Capital Stock which by its terms (or by the
<PAGE>

                                                                              10

terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable at the option of the holder) or upon the happening of any event:

                  (1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than for
         Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock) pursuant to a sinking
         fund obligation or otherwise;

                  (2) is convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder
         for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock; or

                  (3) is mandatorily redeemable or must be purchased upon the
         occurrence of certain events or otherwise, in whole or in part;

in each case on or prior to the ninety-first day after the Stated Maturity of
the Securities; provided, however, that any Capital Stock that would not
constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof
the right to require such Person to purchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon
the occurrence of an "asset sale" or "change of control" occurring prior to the
ninety-first day after the Stated Maturity of the Securities shall not
constitute Disqualified Stock if:

                  (1) the "asset sale" or "change of control" provisions
         applicable to such Capital Stock are not more favorable to the holders
         of such Capital Stock than the terms applicable to the Securities in
         Section 4.06 and Section 4.09; and

                  (2) any such requirement only becomes operative after
         compliance with such terms applicable to the Securities, including the
         purchase of any Securities tendered pursuant thereto.

                  "EBITDA" for any period means the sum of Consolidated Net
Income, plus the following to the extent deducted in calculating such
Consolidated Net Income:

                  (1) all income tax expense of the Company and its consolidated
         Restricted Group Members; provided, how ever, that a portion of the
         income tax expense of an unconsolidated Permitted International Joint
         Venture equal to the percentage of the net income (net loss) of such
         Permitted International Joint Venture allocated to the Company and its
         Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP shall be included in
         EBITDA regardless
<PAGE>

                                                                              11

         of whether deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income;

                  (2) Consolidated Interest Expense; provided, however, that the
         portion of Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to an
         unconsolidated Permitted International Joint Venture shall be included
         in EBITDA regardless of whether deducted in calculating Consolidated
         Net Income;

                  (3) depreciation and amortization expense of the Company and
         its consolidated Restricted Group Members (excluding amortization
         expense attributable to a prepaid operating activity item that was paid
         in cash in a prior period); provided, however, that a portion of the
         depreciation and amortization expense of an unconsolidated Permitted
         International Joint Venture equal to the percentage of the net income
         (net loss) of such Permitted International Joint Venture allocated to
         the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP
         shall be included in EBITDA regardless of whether deducted in
         calculating Consolidated Net Income; and

                  (4) all other noncash charges of the Company and its
         consolidated Restricted Group Members (excluding any such noncash
         charge to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for
         cash expenditures in any future period); provided, however, that a
         portion of all other noncash charges of an unconsolidated Permitted
         International Joint Venture equal to the percentage of the net income
         (net loss) of such Permitted International Joint Venture allocated to
         the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP
         shall be included in EBITDA regardless of whether deducted in
         calculating Consolidated Net Income;

in each case for such period. Notwithstanding the fore going, the provision for
taxes based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization
and non-cash charges of, a Restricted Group Member shall be added to
Consolidated Net Income to compute EBITDA only to the extent (and in the same
proportion) that the net income of such Restricted Group Members was included in
calculating Consolidated Net Income and only if a corresponding amount would be
permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Company by such
Restricted Group Members without prior approval (that has not been obtained),
pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements,
<PAGE>

                                                                              12

instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental
regulations applicable to such Restricted Group Members or its stockholders.

                  "Eligible Receivables" means, at any time, Receivables of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as evidenced on the most recent monthly
consolidated balance sheet of the Company, arising in the ordinary course of
business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

                  "Euro Equivalent" means with respect to any monetary amount in
a currency other than euros, at any time for determination thereof, the amount
of euros obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such
computation into euros at the spot rate for the purchase of euros with the
applicable foreign currency as published in The Wall Street Journal in the
"Exchange Rates" column under the heading "Currency Trading" on the date two
Business Days prior to such determination.

                  "Euro Notes" means the Company's 12-3/4% Senior Notes due 2010
denominated in Euro.

                  "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

                  "Existing Senior Notes" means the 14% Senior Discount Notes
due 2005 of the Company and the 14-1/2% Senior Deferred Interest Notes due 2005
of the Company and the 12-1/2% Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2004 of
Winstar Equipment II Corp. and the 12-1/2% Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due
2004 of Winstar Equipment Corp.

                  "Existing Subordinated Notes" means the 10% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2008 of the Company, the 15% Senior Subordinated Deferred
Interest Notes due 2007 of the Company and the 11% Senior Subordinated Deferred
Interest Notes due 2008 of the Company.

                  "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to any Property (other
than cash), the price that could be negotiated in an arm's-length free market
transaction for cash, between a willing seller and a willing buyer, neither of
whom is under pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. Unless
otherwise specified, (1) in the case of items with a Fair Market Value in excess
of $1,000,000 but less than or equal to $12.5 million, Fair Market Value shall
be determined by the chief financial officer or treasurer of the Company acting
in good faith and, if such Fair Market Value is in excess of $2.0 million, shall
be evidenced by an
<PAGE>

                                                                              13

Officers' Certificate and (2) in the case of items with a Fair Market Value in
excess of $12.5 million, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board of
Directors acting in good faith and shall be evidenced by a resolution of the
Board of Directors.

                  "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America as in effect as of the Issue Date, including those set
forth in

                  (1) the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting
         Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public
         Accountants,

                  (2) statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting
         Standards Board,

                  (3) such other statements by such other entity as approved by
         a significant segment of the accounting profession and

                  (4) the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the
         inclusion of financial statements (including pro forma financial
         statements) in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to
         Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements
         in staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the
         accounting staff of the SEC. All ratios and computations based on GAAP
         contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.

                  "Guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any Person
and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

                  (1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the
         purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such Person (whether
         arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to
         keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to
         take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or
         otherwise); or

                  (2) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other
         manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to
         protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in
         part);
<PAGE>

                                                                              14

provided, however, that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term "Guarantee"
used as a verb has a corresponding meaning. The term "Guarantor" shall mean any
Person Guaranteeing any obligation.

                  "Hedging Obligations" of any Person means the obligations of
such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement or Currency Agreement.

                  "Holder" or "Securityholder" means the Person in whose name a
Security is registered on the Registrar's books.

                  "Incur" means issue, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise
become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of
a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Group Member
(whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to
be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Restricted Group Member. The
term "Incurrence" when used as a noun shall have a correlative meaning. The
accretion of principal of a non-interest bearing or other discount security
shall not be deemed the Incurrence of Indebtedness.

                  "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person on any date
of determination (without duplication):

                  (1) the principal in respect of (A) indebtedness of such
         Person for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes,
         debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which
         such Person is responsible or liable, including, in each case, any
         premium on such indebtedness to the extent such premium has become due
         and payable;

                  (2) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person and all
         Attributable Debt in respect of Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered
         into by such Person;

                  (3) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the
         deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations
         of such Person and all obligations of such Person under any title
         retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in
         the ordinary course of business);

                  (4) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of
         any obligor on any letter of credit,
<PAGE>

                                                                              15

         bank guarantee, banker's acceptance, surety bond or performance bond;

                  (5) the amount of all obligations of such Person with respect
         to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified
         Stock of such Person or, with respect to any Preferred Stock of any
         Subsidiary or Restricted Group Member of such Person, the principal
         amount of such Preferred Stock to be determined in accordance with the
         Indenture (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

                  (6) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1)
         through (5) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the
         payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable,
         directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, including
         by means of any Guarantee;

                  (7) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1)
         through (6) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or
         asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such
         Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of
         the value of such property or assets and the amount of the obligation
         so secured; and

                  (8) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition,
         Hedging Obligations of such Person.

The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding
balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the
maximum liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the
obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date; provided, however, that
the amount of Indebtedness of any unconsolidated Permitted International Joint
Venture shall be reduced by an amount that corresponds to the Third Party
Ownership Interest in such Permitted International Joint Venture.

                  "Indenture" means this Indenture as amended or supplemented
from time to time.

                  "Interest Rate Agreement" means, in respect of a Person, any
interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement or other financial
agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in
interest rates.
<PAGE>

                                                                              16

                  "Investee" means any Person (other than the Company or any
Restricted Group Member) in which the Company or any Restricted Group Member has
an Investment.

                  "Investment" in any Person means any direct or indirect
advance, loan (other than advances to customers in the ordinary course of
business that are recorded as Receivables on the balance sheet of the lender) or
other extensions of credit (including by way of Guarantee or similar
arrangement) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or
other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account
or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness
or other similar instruments issued by such Person.

                  For purposes of the definitions of "Unrestricted Subsidiary",
"Restricted Payment" and "Permitted International Joint Venture", and for
purposes of Section 4.04 and Section 4.06:

                  (1) "Investment" shall include the portion (proportionate to
         the Company's equity interest in such Subsidiary or other entity) of
         the Fair Market Value of the net assets of any (A) Subsidiary of the
         Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted
         Subsidiary or (B) Permitted International Joint Venture at the time
         that such entity is designated an Investee; provided, however, that if
         any Permitted International Joint Venture shall cease to satisfy the
         definition of "Permitted International Joint Venture" and is not
         designated promptly as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted
         Subsidiary, it shall be deemed to have been designated as an Investee;
         provided further, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary
         as a Restricted Subsidiary or such Investee as a Permitted
         International Joint Venture, the Company shall be deemed to continue to
         have a permanent "Investment" in an Unrestricted Subsidiary or
         Investee, as applicable, equal to an amount (if positive) equal to (A)
         the Company's "Investment" in such entity at the time of such
         redesignation less (B) the portion (proportionate to the Company's
         equity interest in such entity) of the Fair Market Value of the net
         assets of such entity at the time of such redesignation; and

                  (2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted
         Subsidiary or Investee shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the
         time of such transfer.
<PAGE>

                                                                              17

                  "Issue Date" means April 10, 2000.

                  "Issue Date Discount Notes" means Discount Notes issued on the
Issue Date, the aggregate principal amount of such notes to be evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate.

                  "Issue Date Euro Notes" means Euro Notes issued on the Issue
Date, the aggregate principal amount of such notes to be evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate.

                  "Issue Date 2010 Senior Notes" means 2010 Senior Notes issued
on the Issue Date, the aggregate principal amount of such notes to be evidenced
by an Officers' Certificate.

                  "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest,
encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof).

                  "Marketable Securities" means, with respect to any Asset
Disposition, any readily marketable equity securities of a corporation whose
primary business is the Telecommunications Business that are (i) traded on the
New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National
Market and (ii) issued by a corporation having a total equity market
capitalization of not less than $250.0 million; provided, however, that the
excess of (A) the aggregate amount of securities of any one such corporation
held by the Company and any Restricted Group Member over (B) 20 times the
average daily trading volume of such securities during the 20 immediately
preceding trading days shall be deemed not to be Marketable Securities, as
determined on the date of the contract relating to such Asset Disposition.

                  "Net Available Cash" from an Asset Disposition means cash
payments received therefrom (including any cash payments received by way of
deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or
otherwise and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any securities
received as consideration, but only as and when received, but excluding any
other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person
of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to such properties or assets or
received in any other noncash form), in each case net of:

                  (1) all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions
         and other fees and expenses incurred, and
<PAGE>

                                                                              18

         all Federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be
         accrued as a liability under GAAP, as a consequence of such Asset
         Disposition;

                  (2) all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by
         any assets subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the
         terms of any Lien upon or other security agreement of any kind with
         respect to such assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to
         obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Disposition, or by applicable
         law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;

                  (3) all distributions and other payments required to be made
         to minority interest holders in Restricted Group Members as a result of
         such Asset Disposition; and

                  (4) the deduction of appropriate amounts provided by the
         seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities
         associated with the property or other assets disposed in such Asset
         Disposition and retained by the Company or any Restricted Group Member
         after such Asset Disposition.

                  "Net Cash Proceeds", with respect to any issuance or sale of
Capital Stock, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of
attorneys' fees, accountants' fees, underwriters' or placement agents' fees,
discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually
incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or
payable as a result thereof.

                  "Office.com" means Office.com Inc. and its successors.

                  "Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any
Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.

                  "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by two
Officers.

                  "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion from legal
counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or
counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

                  "Permitted Credit Facility" means one or more credit
agreements, loan agreements, lease agreements,
<PAGE>

                                                                              19

commercial paper facilities, Receivables facilities or similar facilities,
secured or unsecured, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, sales of
receivables or letters of credit, entered into from time to time by the Company
or its Restricted Group Members, and including any related notes, Guarantees,
collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection
therewith, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated or
replaced from time to time. A Vendor Financing that otherwise satisfies the
foregoing definition will also constitute a Permitted Credit Facility.

                  "Permitted Holders" means William J. Rouhana, Jr. (or in the
event of his incompetence or death, his estate, heirs, executor, administrator,
committee or other personal representative (collectively, "heirs")) or any
Person controlled, directly or indirectly, by William J. Rouhana, Jr. or his
heirs.

                  "Permitted International Joint Venture" means any entity
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company) all or substantially all of whose
business is outside the U.S. and that (i) based on a determination of the Board
of Directors, the Company has, directly or indirectly, the requisite control
over such entity to prevent it from Incurring Indebtedness, or taking any other
action at any time, in contravention of any of the provisions of this Indenture
that apply to a Permitted International Joint Venture, (ii) the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary owns at least 331/3% of the Voting Stock of such entity
and the Third Party Ownership Interest of such entity does not exceed 662/3%,
(iii) such entity is engaged primarily in aspects of the Telecommunications
Business directly related to the Company's business and (iv) the Company has
designated such entity as a Permitted International Joint Venture pursuant to a
resolution of the Board of Directors.

                  Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be
evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the
resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an
Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the
foregoing provisions. The Board of Directors may designate any Permitted
International Joint Venture to no longer be a Permitted International Joint
Venture and to be treated as an Investee; provided, however, that such
designation would be permitted under Section 4.04. Any such designation by the
Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the
Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to
<PAGE>

                                                                              20

such designation and an Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation
complied with the foregoing provisions.

                  "Permitted Investment" means an Investment by the Company or
any Restricted Group Member in:

                  (1) the Company, a Restricted Group Member or a Person that
         will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Group
         Member; provided, however, that the primary business of such Restricted
         Group Member is the Telecommunications Business;

                  (2) another Person if as a result of such Investment such
         other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or
         conveys all or substantially all its assets to, the Company or a
         Restricted Group Member; provided, however, that such Person's primary
         business is the Telecommunications Business;

                  (3) cash and Temporary Cash Investments;

                  (4) Receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Group
         Member;

                  (5) Capital Stock of customers of the Company or any
         Restricted Group Member received in exchange for products and services
         provided in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that
         the value of such products and services (calculated as the
         consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Group Member
         for such products and services in a comparable arm's- length
         transaction) shall not exceed $50.0 million during each successive
         12-month period following the Issue Date;

                  (6) payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that
         are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as
         expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary
         course of business;

                  (7) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course
         of business consistent with past practices of the Company or such
         Restricted Group Member or as part of a compensation scheme approved by
         the Board of Directors in an amount not to exceed $5.0 million at any
         one time outstanding;
<PAGE>

                                                                              21

                  (8) stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of
         debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the
         Company or any Restricted Group Member or in satisfaction of judgments
         or settlement of claims or disputes;

                  (9) shares of Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
         provided, however, that such shares are being acquired from the Company
         or a Restricted Group Member; and

                  (10) any Person to the extent such Investment represents the
         noncash portion (other than Marketable Securities) of the consideration
         received for an Asset Disposition as permitted pursuant to Section
         4.06.

                  "Permitted Liens" means, with respect to any Person:

                  (1) pledges or deposits by such Person under worker's
         compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation,
         or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts
         (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such
         Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory
         obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or United States
         government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person
         is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import
         duties or for the payment of rent or similar operational requirements,
         in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

                  (2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers', warehousemen's
         and mechanics' Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being
         contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens
         arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to
         which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other
         proceedings for review and Liens arising solely by virtue of any
         statutory or common law provision relating to banker's Liens, rights of
         set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other
         funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided,
         however, that (A) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash
         collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by
         the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by
         the Federal Reserve Board and (B) such deposit account is not intended
         by the Company or any
<PAGE>

                                                                              22

         Restricted Group Member to provide collateral to the depository
         institution;

                  (3) Liens for taxes not yet subject to penalties for
         nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith and by
         appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded;
         provided, however, that such Person has created a reserve or other
         appropriate provision therefor as may be required by GAAP;

                  (4) Liens in favor of issuers of letters of credit, bank
         guarantees, bankers' acceptances, surety bonds, bid bonds and
         performance bonds issued pursuant to the request of and for the account
         of such Person in the ordinary course of its business; provided,
         however, that the Indebtedness in respect thereto is permitted to be
         Incurred by Section 4.03;

                  (5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or
         reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way,
         sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar
         purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real
         property or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such
         Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in
         connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate
         materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially
         impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

                  (6) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under the
         provisions described in Section 4.03(b)(1), Section 4.03(b)(5), Section
         4.03(b)(8) (but with respect to Section 4.03(b)(8) only to the extent
         such Indebtedness constitutes Refinancing Indebtedness of Purchase
         Money Indebtedness) and Section 4.03(b)(10); provided, however, that
         any such Liens securing Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness pursuant
         to a Permitted Credit Facility) described in Section 4.03(b)(5) (or
         Refinancing Indebtedness thereof) may not extend to any property owned
         by the Company or any of the Restricted Group Members other than the
         property acquired with the proceeds from Indebtedness Incurred under
         such Section 4.03(b)(5) and the proceeds therefrom;

                  (7) Liens existing on the Issue Date;
<PAGE>

                                                                              23

                  (8) Liens on property or shares of Capital Stock of another
         Person at the time such other Person becomes a Subsidiary of such
         Person or a Permitted International Joint Venture; provided, however,
         that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by such
         Person or any of its Restricted Group Members (other than assets and
         property affixed or appurtenant thereto);

                  (9) Liens on property at the time such Person or any of its
         Subsidiaries or Permitted International Joint Ventures acquires the
         property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or
         consolidation with or into such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person;
         provided, however, that the Liens may not extend to any other property
         owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Group Members (other than
         assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto);

                  (10) Liens in favor of the Company or any Restricted Group
         Member on any property other than property of the Company;

                  (11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations consisting of (A)
         Interest Rate Agreements or Currency Agreements directly related to
         Indebtedness that is, and is permitted to be incurred under this
         Indenture or (B) Currency Agreements used to hedge non-U.S. dollar
         currency exposures of the Company and its Restricted Group Members,
         entered into in accordance with customary industry practices for
         companies in the Telecommunications Business with international
         operations and not for purposes of speculation, in each case secured
         by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations;

                  (12) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the
         Company or any of its Restricted Group Members with respect to
         obligations that do not exceed $10.0 million at any one time
         outstanding; provided, however, that

                           (A) such obligations are not Incurred in connection
                  with the borrowing of money; and

                           (B) such Liens do not in the aggregate materially
                  detract from the value of the property or materially impair
                  the use thereof in the operation of business by the Company or
                  such Restricted Group Member;
<PAGE>

                                                                              24

                  (13) Liens on the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
         and

                  (14) Liens to secure any Refinancing (or successive
         Refinancings) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by
         any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (7), (8) or (9);
         provided, however, that:

                           (A) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of
                  the same property and assets that secured or, under the
                  written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose,
                  could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and
                  accessions to, such property or proceeds or distributions
                  thereof); and

                           (B) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such
                  time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of
                  (x) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed
                  amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (7), (8) or
                  (9) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien and
                  (y) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses,
                  including premiums and defeasance costs, related to such
                  refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement.

For purposes of this definition, the term "Indebtedness" shall be deemed to
include interest, fees and other amounts due on such Indebtedness.

                  "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company,
trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof or any other entity.

                  "Preferred Stock", as applied to the Capital Stock of any
Person, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which
is preferred as to the payment of dividends or distributions, or as to the
distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or
dissolution of such Person, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of
such Person.

                  "Preferred Stock Exchange Offer" means an offer by the Company
to exchange any and all of its Series C Preferred Stock (or the exchange
debentures issuable in
<PAGE>

                                                                              25

respect of such Series C Preferred Stock in accordance with its terms) for
Discount Notes or 2010 Senior Notes.

                  "principal" of a Security means the principal of the Security
plus the premium, if any, payable on the Security which is due or overdue or is
to become due at the relevant time.

                  "Property" means, with respect to any Person, any interest of
such Person in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed,
or tangible or intangible, including Capital Stock in, and other securities of,
any other Person. For purposes of any calculation required pursuant to this
Indenture the value of any Property shall be its Fair Market Value.

                  "Public Equity Offering" means an underwritten primary public
offering of common stock of the Company pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act.

                  "Purchase Money Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (including
Capital Lease Obligations, Acquired Indebtedness, mortgage financings and
purchase money obligations) Incurred for the purpose of financing all or any
part of the cost of construction, installation, acquisition, lease, development
or improvement by the Company or any Restricted Group Member of any
Telecommunications Assets of the Company or any Restricted Group Member,
including any related note, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and
agreements executed in connection therewith, as the same may be amended,
supplemented, modified or restated from time to time.

                  "Qualified Receivables Transaction" means an Incurrence of
Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Group Member pursuant to either
(1) credit facilities secured by Receivables or (2) Receivables purchase
facilities.

                  "Receivables" means receivables, chattel paper, instruments,
documents or intangibles evidencing or relating to the right to payment of money
and proceeds and products thereof in each case generated in the ordinary course
of business.

                  "Refinance" means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to
refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or
to issue other Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such indebtedness.
<PAGE>

                                                                              26

"Refinanced" and "Refinancing" shall have correlative meanings.

                  "Refinancing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness that Refinances
any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Group Member existing on the
Issue Date or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture, including Indebtedness
that Refinances Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that:

                  (1) such Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity no
         earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

                  (2) such Refinancing Indebtedness has an Average Life at the
         time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred that is equal to or
         greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being Refinanced; and

                  (3) such Refinancing Indebtedness has an aggregate principal
         amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, an aggregate issue
         price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or
         if Incurred with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value)
         then outstanding (plus fees and expenses, including any premium and
         defeasance costs) under the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

provided further, however, that Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include (A)
Indebtedness of a Subsidiary or a Permitted International Joint Venture that
Refinances Indebtedness of the Company or (B) Indebtedness of the Company or a
Restricted Group Member that Refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.

                  "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement dated April 10, 2000, among the Company, Credit Suisse First Boston
Corporation, Salomon Smith Barney Inc., BNY Capital Markets, Inc. and CIBC World
Markets Corp., as representatives of the several initial purchasers identified
therein.

                  "Restricted Group Member" means collectively each Restricted
Subsidiary and each Permitted International Joint Venture.
<PAGE>

                                                                              27

                  "Restricted Payment" with respect to any Person means:

                  (1) the declaration or payment of any dividends or any other
         distributions of any sort in respect of its Capital Stock (including
         any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving
         such Person) or similar payment to the direct or indirect holders of
         its Capital Stock (other than dividends or distributions payable
         solely in its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock), rights to
         purchase additional Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) for
         cash and dividends or distributions payable solely to the Company or a
         Restricted Group Member, and other than pro rata dividends or other
         distributions made by a Restricted Group Member that is not a Wholly
         Owned Subsidiary to minority stockholders or holders of Third Party
         Ownership Interests (or owners of an equivalent interest in the case of
         a Restricted Group Member that is an entity other than a corporation)
         or holders of Third Party Ownership Interests);

                  (2) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or
         retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company or any direct
         or indirect parent of the Company held by any Person or of any Capital
         Stock of a Restricted Group Member held by any Affiliate of the Company
         (other than a Restricted Group Member), including the exercise of any
         option to exchange any Capital Stock (other than into Capital Stock of
         the Company that is not Disqualified Stock);

                  (3) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other
         acquisition or retirement for value, prior to scheduled maturity,
         scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any
         Subordinated Obligations of such Person (other than the purchase,
         repurchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Obligations purchased
         in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal
         installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the
         date of such purchase, repurchase or other acquisition); or

                  (4) the making of any Investment (other than a Permitted
         Investment) in any Person.

                  "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company
that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
<PAGE>

                                                                              28

                  "Sale/Leaseback Transaction" means an arrangement relating to
property owned by the Company or a Restricted Group Member on the Issue Date or
thereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the
Company or a Restricted Group Member transfers such property to a Person (other
than the Company or a Restricted Group Member) and the Company or a Restricted
Group Member leases it from such Person.

                  "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                  "Secured Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the Company
secured by a Lien on property of the Company or any Restricted Group Member.

                  "Senior Indebtedness" means:

                  (1) Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding on the
         Issue Date or thereafter Incurred; and

                  (2) accrued and unpaid interest (including interest accruing
         on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for
         reorganization relating to the Company to the extent postfiling
         interest is allowed in such proceeding) in respect of (A) indebtedness
         of the Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by
         notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment
         of which the Company is responsible or liable

unless, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), in the instrument creating or
evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided
that such obligations are subordinate in right of payment to the Securities;
provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include:

                  (1) any obligation of the Company to any Subsidiary or
         Permitted International Joint Venture;

                  (2) any liability for Federal, state, local or other taxes
         owed or owing by the Company;

                  (3) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors
         arising in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees
         thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities);
<PAGE>

                                                                              29

                  (4) any Indebtedness of the Company (and any accrued and
         unpaid interest in respect thereof) which is subordinate or junior in
         any respect to any other Indebtedness or other obligation of the
         Company; or

                  (5) that portion of any Indebtedness which at the time of
         Incurrence is Incurred in violation of this Indenture.

                  "Securities" means the Securities issued under this Indenture.

                  "Series C Preferred Stock" means the Series C 14- 1/4% Senior
Cumulative Exchangeable Preferred Stock due 2007 of the Company issued and
outstanding on the Issue Date.

                  "Significant Restricted Group Member" means any Restricted
Group Member that would be a "Significant Subsidiary" of the Company within the
meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC, assuming for
the purpose of this definition that a Permitted International Joint Venture that
is not a Subsidiary of the Company is a Subsidiary of the Company.

                  "Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any security, the
date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of
principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any
mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the
repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the
happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such
contingency has occurred).

                  "Subordinated Obligation" means any Indebtedness of the
Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is
subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Securities pursuant to a
written agreement to that effect.

                  "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any
corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more
than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Voting Stock is at the time
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by:

                  (1) such Person;

                  (2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person;
         or
<PAGE>

                                                                              30

                  (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

                  "Telecommunications Assets" means (a) any Property (other than
cash, cash equivalents and securities) used in the Telecommunications Business;
(b) for purposes of Section 4.03, Section 4.04 and Section 4.10 only, Capital
Stock of any Person, or (c) for all other purposes of this Indenture, Capital
Stock of a Restricted Group Member or a Person that becomes a Restricted Group
Member as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or
another Restricted Group Member, in each case, acquired from any Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company or a Permitted International Joint Venture) in
a bona fide transaction; provided, however, that, in the case of clause (b) or
(c), such Person is primarily engaged in the Telecommunications Business.

                  "Telecommunications Business" means the business of (i)
transmitting, or providing services relating to the transmission of, voice,
video or data through transmission facilities, (ii) constructing, creating,
developing or producing communications networks, related network transmission
equipment, software, devices and content for use in a communications or content
distribution business, (iii) data center management, computer and application
outsourcing, computer systems integration, reengineering of computer software,
information services and web hosting and any services related thereto or (iv)
evaluating, participating or pursuing any other activity or opportunity that is
primarily related to those identified in (i), (ii) or (iii) above or in
furtherance thereof, including, without limitation, any business conducted by
the Company or any Restricted Group Member on the Issue Date; provided, however,
that the determination of what constitutes a Telecommunications Business shall
be made in good faith by the Board of Directors.

                  "Temporary Cash Investments" means any of the following:

                  (1) any investment in direct obligations of the United States
         of America or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the
         United States of America or any agency thereof;

                  (2) investments in time deposit accounts, certificates of
         deposit, money market deposits, bankers' acceptances and repurchase
         obligations maturing within 365 days of the date of acquisition thereof
         issued by a bank or trust company which is
<PAGE>

                                                                              31

         organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state
         thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States, and
         which bank or trust company has capital, surplus and undivided profits
         aggregating in excess of $500,000,000 (or the foreign currency
         equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt which is rated "A" (or
         such similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally
         recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436
         under the Securities Act) or any money- market fund sponsored by a
         registered broker dealer or mutual fund distributor;

                  (3) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30
         days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (1)
         above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in
         clause (2) above;

                  (4) investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than
         270 days after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other
         than an Affiliate of the Company) organized and in existence under the
         laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or any foreign
         country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the
         time as of which any investment therein is made of "P-1" (or higher)
         according to Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or "A-1" (or higher)
         according to Standard and Poor's Ratings Group;

                  (5) investments in securities with maturities of one year or
         less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any
         state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or
         by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at
         least "A" by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or "A" by Moody's
         Investors Service, Inc.;

                  (6) auction rate preferred stocks of any corporation maturing
         within 90 days after the date of acquisition rated at least "A" by
         Standard and Poor's Ratings Group; and

                  (7) any investment in a registered investment company
         investing exclusively in investments of the types described in clauses
         (1) through (6) above.

                  "Third Party Ownership Interest" in a Permitted International
Joint Venture means a percentage equal to the
<PAGE>

                                                                              32

difference between 100% and the percentage of the net income (net loss) of such
Permitted International Joint Venture allocated to the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

                  "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.ss.ss.
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

                  "Trustee" means the party named as such in this Indenture
until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

                  "Trust Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the President
or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee
to administer its corporate trust matters.

                  "2010 Senior Notes" means the Company's 12-1/2% Senior Notes
due 2010 denominated in U.S. dollars.

                  "Uniform Commercial Code" means the New York Uniform
Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

                  "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means:

                  (1) Office.com;

                  (2) Winstar Credit Corp.;

                  (3) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of
         determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the
         Board of Directors in the manner provided below; and

                  (4) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including
any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary
unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Capital Stock or
Indebtedness of, or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company (other than
Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company contributed to such
Unrestricted Subsidiary and promptly transferred by such Unrestricted Subsidiary
in exchange for Telecommunications Assets) or any other Subsidiary of the
Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or is the
obligor on any Indebtedness a default on which would result in a default on any
Indebtedness of the Company or a
<PAGE>

                                                                              33

Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that either (A) the Subsidiary to be
so designated has total assets of $10,000 or less or (B) if such Subsidiary has
assets greater than $10,000, such designation would be permitted under Section
4.04.

                  The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted
Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that immediately
after giving effect to such designation (A) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio
would be no worse than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio determined immediately
prior to such designation, (B) all Liens and Indebtedness of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary outstanding immediately following such designation would, if Incurred
at such time, have been permitted to be Incurred at such time for all purposes
of this Indenture and (C) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Any
such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by
promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of
Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officers' Certificate
certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

                  "U.S. Dollar Equivalent" means with respect to any monetary
amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars, at any time for determination
thereof, the amount of U.S. dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency
involved in such computation into U.S. dollars at the spot rate for the purchase
of U.S. dollars with the applicable foreign currency as published in The Wall
Street Journal in the "Exchange Rates" column under the heading "Currency
Trading" on the date two Business Days prior to such determination.

                  Except as described in Section 4.03, whenever it is necessary
to determine whether the Company has complied with any covenant in this
Indenture or a Default has occurred and an amount is expressed in a currency
other than U.S. dollars, such amount will be treated as the U.S. Dollar
Equivalent determined as of the date such amount is initially determined in such
currency.

                  "U.S. Government Obligations" means direct obligations (or
certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of the
United States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for
the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America
is pledged and which are not callable at the issuer's option.
<PAGE>

                                                                              34

                  "Vendor Financing" means any financing or other credit or
deferred payment arrangement provided by a supplier, manufacturer or lessor of
Telecommunications Assets or any Affiliate thereof.

                  "Voting Stock" of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock
or other interests (including partnership interests) of such Person then
outstanding and normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any
contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees
thereof.

                  "Wholly Owned Subsidiary" means a Restricted Subsidiary all
the Capital Stock of which (other than directors' qualifying shares) is owned by
the Company or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

                  SECTION 1.02.  Other Definitions.

                                                                     Defined in
                                  Term                                 Section
                                  ----                               ----------

         "Affiliate Transaction"..................................    4.07
         "Appendix"...............................................    2.01
         "Bankruptcy Law".........................................    6.01
         "Change of Control Offer"................................    4.09(b)
         "covenant defeasance option".............................    8.01(b)
         "Custodian"..............................................    6.01
         "Event of Default".......................................    6.01
         "Initial Lien"...........................................    4.10
         "legal defeasance option"................................    8.01(b)
         "Legal Holiday"..........................................   10.07
         "Offer"..................................................    4.06(b)
         "Offer Amount"...........................................    4.06(c)(2)
         "Offer Period"...........................................    4.06(c)(2)
         "Paying Agent"...........................................    2.03
         "Purchase Date"..........................................    4.06(c)(1)
         "Registrar"..............................................    2.03
         "Successor Company"......................................    5.01

                  SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture
Act. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA which are
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following
TIA terms have the following meanings:

                  "Commission" means the SEC;

                  "indenture securities" means the Securities;
<PAGE>

                                                                              35

                  "indenture security holder" means a Securityholder;

                  "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;

                  "indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the
Trustee; and

                  "obligor" on the indenture securities means the Company and
any other obligor on the indenture securities.

                  All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by
the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have
the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

                  SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction. Unless the context
otherwise requires:

                  (1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

                  (2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning
         assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

                  (3) "or" is not exclusive;

                  (4) "including" means including without limitation;

                  (5) words in the singular include the plural and words in the
         plural include the singular;

                  (6) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be
         subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its
         nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

                  (7) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other
         discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof
         that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date
         prepared in accordance with GAAP;

                  (8) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i)
         the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the
         maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with
         respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater; and

                  (9) all references to the date the Securities were originally
         issued shall refer to the Issue Date.
<PAGE>

                                                                              36

                                    ARTICLE 2

                                 The Securities

                  SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the
Initial Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Exchange Securities
are set forth in the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix attached hereto (the
"Appendix") which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this
Indenture. The Initial Securities and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix
which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The
Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Trustee's
certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A,
which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The
Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock
exchange rule, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage
(provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable
to the Company). Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
The terms of the Securities set forth in the Appendix and Exhibit A are part of
the terms of this Indenture.

                  SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall
sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

                  If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds
that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security
shall be valid nevertheless.

                  A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of
the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security.
The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been
authenticated under this Indenture.

                  On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver
$325,000,000 of 12-1/2% Senior Notes Due 2008 and, at any time and from time to
time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities for
original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in such order, in each
case upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer
and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the
<PAGE>

                                                                              37

Company. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be
authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be
authenticated.

                  The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably
acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities. Unless limited by the
terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities
whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to
authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An
authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent
for service of notices and demands.

                  SECTION 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall
maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration
of transfer or for exchange (the "Registrar") and an office or agency where
Securities may be presented for payment (the "Paying Agent"). The Registrar
shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The
Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying
agents. The term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent.

                  The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement
with any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture,
which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the
provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall
notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Company
fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such
and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section
7.07. The Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary incorporated or organized
within The United States of America may act as Paying Agent, Registrar,
co-registrar or transfer agent.

                  The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and
Paying Agent in connection with the Securities.

                  SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust. Prior to
each due date of the principal and interest on any Security, the Company shall
deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and
interest when so becoming due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent
(other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in
trust for the benefit of
<PAGE>

                                                                              38

Securityholders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the
payment of principal of or interest on the Securities and shall notify the
Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company
or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as
Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may
require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account
for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section,
the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the
Trustee.

                  SECTION 2.05. Securityholder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve
in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list
available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders. If the Trustee is
not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least
five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as
the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as
the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of
Securityholders.

                  SECTION 2.06. Transfer and Exchange. The Securities shall be
issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a
Security for registration of transfer. When a Security is presented to the
Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar
shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of this Indenture
and Section 8-401(1) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Securities are
presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to exchange them
for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the
Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange,
but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer
tax, assessments or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith
(other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge
payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.06, 4.09 and
9.05).

                  SECTION 2.07. Replacement Securities. If a mutilated Security
is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the
Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue
and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of
Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code
<PAGE>

                                                                              39

are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the
Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder shall furnish an
indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to
protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any
co-registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is
replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses
in replacing a Security.

                  Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the
Company.

                  SECTION 2.08. Outstanding Securities; When Securities
Disregarded. Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated
by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for
cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. A Security
does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company holds the Security.

                  If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases
to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory
to them that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

                  If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in
accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money
sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect
to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case
may be, then on and after that date such Securities (or portions thereof) cease
to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

                  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture to the
contrary, in determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of
Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned
by the Company or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled
by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company shall be
disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such
direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee knows are so
owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Securities
outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.
<PAGE>

                                                                              40

                  SECTION 2.09. Temporary Securities. Until definitive
Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall
authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially
in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company
considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the
Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities
and deliver them in exchange for temporary Securities.

                  SECTION 2.10. Cancellation. The Company at any time may
deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying
Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for
registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall
cancel and destroy (subject to the record retention requirements of the
Exchange Act) all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange,
payment or cancellation and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the
Company unless the Company directs the Trustee to deliver canceled Securities to
the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it
has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

                  SECTION 2.11. Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a
payment of interest on the Securities, the Company shall pay defaulted interest
(plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful
manner. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the persons who are
Securityholders on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix or
cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail to each
Securityholder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date
and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

                  SECTION 2.12. CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code Numbers. The Company
in issuing the Securities may use "CUSIP", "ISIN" or "Common Code" numbers (if
then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers, "ISIN
or "Common Code" in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided,
however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the
correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained
in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption
<PAGE>

                                                                              41

shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                                   Redemption

                              INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

                                    ARTICLE 4

                                    Covenants

                  SECTION 4.01. Payment of Securities. The Company shall
promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Securities on the dates and in
the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. Principal and
interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or
the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay
all principal and interest then due.

                  The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the
rate specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue
installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

                  SECTION 4.02. SEC Reports. Notwithstanding that the Company
may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, the Company will file with the SEC and provide the Trustee and
Security holders with such annual reports and such information, documents and
other reports as are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and
applicable to a U.S. corporation subject to such Sections, such information,
documents and other reports to be so filed and provided at the times specified
for the filing of such information, documents and reports under such Sections.
In addition, the Company will furnish to the Holder of the Securities and to
prospective investors, upon the requests of such Holders, any information
required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so
long as any Securities are not freely transferable under the Securities Act. The
Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA ss. 314(a).

                  SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Indebtedness. (a) The Company will
not, and will not permit any
<PAGE>

                                                                              42

Restricted Group Member to, Incur, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness;
provided, however, that the Company will be entitled to Incur Indebtedness if,
on the date of such Incurrence and after giving effect thereto on a pro forma
basis, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would be less than 6.0 to 1.

                  (b) Notwithstanding Section 4.03(a), so long as no Default has
occurred and is continuing, the Company and the Restricted Group Members will be
entitled to Incur any or all of the following Indebtedness:

                  (1) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to one or more Permitted
         Credit Facilities; provided, however, that, after giving effect to any
         such Incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness
         then outstanding does not exceed (A) the greater of (x) $1.15 billion
         and (y) 85% of Eligible Receivables less (B) the sum of (i) all
         principal payments with respect to such Indebtedness (other than
         Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to the revolving loan portion of a
         Permitted Credit Facility) pursuant to Section 4.06(a)(3)(A) and (ii)
         the principal amount of such Indebtedness assumed by a transferee in
         any Asset Disposition;

                  (2) Indebtedness owed to and held by the Company or a
         Restricted Group Member; provided, however, that (A) any subsequent
         issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or the occurrence of any
         other event which results in any such Restricted Group Member ceasing
         to be a Restricted Group Member or any subsequent transfer of such
         Indebtedness (other than to the Company or another Restricted Group
         Member) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute the Incurrence of
         such Indebtedness by the obligor thereon and (B) if the Company is the
         obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is not secured and is
         expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all
         obligations with respect to the Securities;

                  (3) the Securities, the Issue Date 2010 Senior Notes, the
         Issue Date Discount Notes and the Issue Date Euro Notes;

                  (4) Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date (other than
         Indebtedness described in clause (1), (2) or (3) of this Section
         4.03(b)) and any exchange debentures issued in exchange for the Series
         C Preferred Stock in accordance with its terms or
<PAGE>

                                                                              43

         Discount Notes or 2010 Senior Notes issued in exchange for such
         exchange debentures or Series C Preferred Stock;

                  (5) Purchase Money Indebtedness; provided, however, that, to
         the extent such Purchase Money Indebtedness is Incurred by a Restricted
         Group Member, such Purchase Money Indebtedness shall be Incurred
         pursuant to a Permitted Credit Facility or a Vendor Financing; provided
         further, however, that the amount of such Purchase Money Indebtedness
         does not exceed 100% of the cost and directly related expenses of the
         construction, installation, acquisition, lease, insurance, shipping,
         development or improvement of, or any service agreement, maintenance
         agreement, warranty agreement or similar agreement in respect of, the
         applicable Telecommunications Assets;

                  (6) Indebtedness of the Company in an amount which, when taken
         together with the amount of all other Indebtedness of the Company
         Incurred pursuant to this clause (6) and then outstanding, does not
         exceed two times the sum of (x) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds
         received by the Company from the issuance or sale of Capital Stock
         (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (other than an issuance
         or sale to a Subsidiary of the Company or a Permitted International
         Joint Venture and other than an issuance or sale to an employee stock
         ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company, any of its
         Subsidiaries or any Permitted International Joint Venture for the
         benefit of their employees) and (y) the fair market value of any
         Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company issued to
         any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company or a Permitted
         International Joint Venture) (i) in exchange for Telecommunications
         Assets or (ii) in exchange for Capital Stock of another Person a
         substantial majority of the assets of which consist of
         Telecommunications Assets in a transaction pursuant to which such other
         Person becomes a Restricted Group Member, in each case received or
         issued, as the case may be, on or subsequent to February 1, 2000;
         provided, however, that such Net Cash Proceeds or fair market value
         have not served as a basis for making a Restricted Payment pursuant to
         Section 4.04(a)(3)(B), Section 4.04(b)(1) or Section 4.04(b)(5);

                  (7) Indebtedness of a Restricted Group Member Incurred and
         outstanding on or prior to the date on
<PAGE>

                                                                              44

         which such Subsidiary (in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary) or an
         interest in such entity (in the case of a Permitted International Joint
         Venture) was acquired by the Company (other than Indebtedness Incurred
         in connection with, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or
         credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of
         related transactions pursuant to which such Subsidiary (in the case of
         a Restricted Subsidiary) or an interest in such entity (in the case of
         a Permitted International Joint Venture) was acquired by the Company);
         provided, however, that on the date of such acquisition and after
         giving pro forma effect thereto, the Company would have been able to
         Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section
         4.03(a);

                  (8) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness
         Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or pursuant to clause (3), (4),
         (5) or (7) of this Section 4.03(b) or this clause (8); provided,
         however, that any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred by a Restricted
         Group Member in respect of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clause (5)
         of this Section 4.03(b) is Incurred pursuant to a Permitted Credit
         Facility or a Vendor Financing;

                  (9) Hedging Obligations consisting of (A) Interest Rate
         Agreements or Currency Agreements directly related to Indebtedness
         permitted to be Incurred by the Company pursuant to this Indenture;
         provided, however, that the notional amount of any such Hedging
         Obligation does not exceed the amount of Indebtedness to which such
         Hedging Obligation relates or (B) Currency Agreements used to hedge
         non-U.S. dollar currency exposures of the Company and its Restricted
         Group Members, entered into in accordance with customary industry
         practices for companies in the Telecommunications Business with
         international operations and not for purposes of speculation;

                  (10) Indebtedness solely in respect of letters of credit, bank
         guarantees, banker's acceptances, cash deposits, surety bonds, bid
         bonds and performance bonds Incurred in the ordinary course of
         business; provided, however, that such instruments or deposits do not
         support any Indebtedness other than Indebtedness which, if Incurred by
         the Company, would be permitted to be Incurred pursuant to another
         provision of this Section 4.03;
<PAGE>

                                                                              45

                  (11) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Group Member
         consisting of a Guaranty of Indebtedness of a Restricted Group Member
         permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture; provided, however, that
         the entity providing the Guaranty would have been able to Incur such
         Indebtedness under this Indenture; and

                  (12) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Group Member
         in an aggregate principal amount which, when taken together with all
         other Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Group Members
         outstanding on the date of such Incurrence (other than Indebtedness
         permitted by clauses (1) through (11) of this Section 4.03(b) or
         Section 4.03(a)) does not exceed $50.0 million.

                  (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not Incur
any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(b) (other than the Incurrence of (1)
any exchange debentures issued in exchange for the Series C Preferred Stock in
accordance with its terms or Discount Notes or 2010 Senior Notes issued in
exchange for such exchange debentures or Series C Preferred Stock and (2) any
Indebtedness issued in exchange for the Existing Subordinated Notes) if the
proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to Refinance any Subordinated
Obligations unless such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Securities to
at least the same extent as such Subordinated Obligations.

                  (d) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section
4.03, (1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more
than one of the types of Indebtedness described above, the Company, in its sole
discretion, will classify such item of Indebtedness at the time of Incurrence
and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one
of the above clauses and (2) the Company will be entitled to divide and classify
an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described
above.

                  (e) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S.
dollar or euro-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness where
the Indebtedness Incurred is denominated in a different currency, the amount of
such Indebtedness will be the U.S. Dollar Equivalent or Euro Equivalent, as the
case may be, determined on the date of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness,
provided, however, that if any such Indebtedness denominated in a different
currency is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to U.S. dollars or
euros, as the case may be, covering all
<PAGE>

                                                                              46

principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on such Indebtedness the amount
of such Indebtedness expressed in U.S. dollars or euros will be as provided in
such Currency Agreement. The principal amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness
Incurred in the same currency as the Indebtedness, being Refinanced will be the
Euro Equivalent or U.S. Dollar Equivalent, as appropriate, of the Indebtedness
Refinanced, except to the extent that (1) such U.S. Dollar Equivalent or Euro
Equivalent was determined based on a Currency Agreement, in which case the
Refinancing Indebtedness will be determined in accordance with the preceding
sentence, and (2) the principal amount of the Refinancing Indebtedness exceeds
the principal amount of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, in which case the
U.S. Dollar Equivalent or Euro Equivalent of such excess, as appropriate, will
be determined on the date such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred.

                  SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments. (a) The
Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Group Member, directly or
indirectly, to make a Restricted Payment if at the time the Company or such
Restricted Group Member makes such Restricted Payment:

                  (1) a Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would
         result therefrom);

                  (2) after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis, the
         Company is not entitled to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness
         pursuant to Section 4.03(a); or

                  (3) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all
         other Restricted Payments since the Issue Date would exceed the sum of
         (without duplication):

                           (A) the amount of (x) cumulative EBITDA during the
                  period (taken as a single accounting period) beginning on the
                  first day of the fiscal quarter of the Company beginning after
                  the Issue Date and ending on the last day of the most recent
                  fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days prior to the date of
                  such Restricted Payment minus (y) the product of 1.5 times
                  cumulative Consolidated Interest Expense during such period;
                  plus

                           (B) subject to Section 4.04(c), 100% of the aggregate
                  Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from the issuance or
                  sale of its Capital
<PAGE>

                                                                              47

                  Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) subsequent to the Issue
                  Date (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the
                  Company or a Permitted International Joint Venture and other
                  than an issuance or sale to an employee stock ownership plan
                  or to a trust established by the Company, any of its
                  Subsidiaries or any Permitted International Joint Venture for
                  the benefit of their employees); provided, however, that such
                  Net Cash Proceeds have not served as a basis to make a
                  Restricted Payment pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(1) or Section
                  4.04(b)(5); plus

                           (C) the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company
                  or a Restricted Group Member is reduced on the Company's
                  consolidated balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange
                  (other than by a Subsidiary of the Company or a Permitted
                  International Joint Venture) subsequent to the Issue Date of
                  any Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Group Member
                  for or into Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of
                  the Company (less the amount of any cash, or the fair value of
                  any other property (other than Capital Stock of the Company
                  that is not Disqualified Stock), distributed by the Company or
                  a Restricted Group Member upon such conversion or exchange);
                  plus

                           (D) an amount equal to the sum of (x) the net
                  reduction in the Investments (other than Permitted
                  Investments) made by the Company or any Restricted Group
                  Member in any Person resulting from repurchases, repayments
                  or redemptions of such Investments by such Person, proceeds
                  realized on the sale of such Investment, proceeds representing
                  the return of capital (excluding dividends and distributions),
                  in each case received by the Company or any Restricted Group
                  Member, and (y) if an Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated as
                  a Restricted Group Member or an Investee is designated as a
                  Restricted Group Member or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary,
                  the portion (proportionate to the Company's equity interest in
                  such Subsidiary or Investee) of the fair market value of the
                  net assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Investee at the
                  time such Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted
                  Group Member or such Investee is designated as a Restricted
                  Group Member or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided,
                  however, that the foregoing sum shall
<PAGE>

                                                                              48

                  not exceed, in the case of any such Person, Unrestricted
                  Subsidiary or Investee, the amount of Investments (excluding
                  Permitted Investments) previously made (and treated as a
                  Restricted Payment and included in the calculation of the
                  amount of Restricted Payments) by the Company or any
                  Restricted Group Member in such Person, Unrestricted
                  Subsidiary or Investee.

                  (b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

                  (1) subject to Section 4.04(c), any Restricted Payment made
         out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of
         (or specified with particularity at the time of the sale of, and
         subsequently made with such Net Cash Proceeds of), or made by exchange
         for, Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company
         (other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary of the Company
         or a Permitted International Joint Venture or an employee stock
         ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company, any of its
         Subsidiaries or any Permitted International Joint Venture for the
         benefit of their employees); provided, however, that such Net Cash
         Proceeds have not served as a basis for making any other Restricted
         Payment; provided further, however, that (A) such Restricted Payment
         shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted
         Payments and (B) the Net Cash Proceeds from any such sale (to the
         extent so used for such Restricted Payment) shall be excluded from the
         calculation of amounts under Section 4.04(a)(3)(B);

                  (2) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other
         acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Obligations made by
         exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent
         sale of (or specified with particularity at the time of the sale of,
         and subsequently made with such proceeds of), Indebtedness which is
         permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03; provided, however,
         that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other
         acquisition or retirement for value shall be excluded in the
         calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

                  (3) dividends paid within 60 days after the date of
         declaration thereof if at such date of declaration such dividend would
         have complied with this
<PAGE>

                                                                              49

         Section 4.04; provided, however, that at the time of payment of such
         dividend, no other Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or
         result therefrom); provided further, however, that such dividend shall
         be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

                  (4) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, the
         repurchase or other acquisition of shares of Capital Stock of the
         Company from employees, former employees, directors or former directors
         of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Permitted International
         Joint Venture (or permitted transferees of such employees, former
         employees, directors or former directors), pursuant to the terms of
         agreements (including employment agreements) or plans (or amendments
         thereto) approved by the Board of Directors under which such
         individuals purchase or sell or are granted the option to purchase or
         sell, shares of such Capital Stock; provided, however, that the
         aggregate amount of such repurchases and other acquisitions (other than
         repurchases and acquisitions made pursuant to agreements in effect on
         the Issue Date) shall not exceed $5.0 million in any calendar year
         (with unused amounts being carried forward indefinitely); provided
         further, however, that such repurchases and other acquisitions shall be
         included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

                  (5) subject to Section 4.04(c), Investments in any Person a
         substantial majority of the assets of which consist of
         Telecommunications Assets; provided, how ever, that the Fair Market
         Value of all such Investments made pursuant to this clause (5)
         (measured on the date each such Investment was made) and then
         outstanding, does not exceed the sum of $100.0 million, plus the sum of
         (x) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from the
         issuance or sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of
         the Company (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the
         Company or a Permitted International Joint Venture and other than an
         issuance or sale to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust
         established by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Permitted
         International Joint Venture for the benefit of their employees) and (y)
         the fair market value of any Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
         Stock) of the Company issued to any Person (other than a Subsidiary of
         the Company or a Permitted International Joint Venture) (i) in exchange
         for Telecommunications Assets or
<PAGE>

                                                                              50

         (ii) in exchange for Capital Stock of another Person a substantial
         majority of the assets of which consist of Telecommunications Assets in
         a transaction pursuant to which such other Person becomes a Restricted
         Group Member, in each case received or issued, as the case may be,
         subsequent to February 1, 2000; provided, however, that such Net Cash
         Proceeds or fair market value have not served as a basis for making any
         other Restricted Payment; provided further, however, that (A) such
         Investments shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of
         Restricted Payments and (B) the Net Cash Proceeds from any such
         issuance or sale of Capital Stock (to the extent so used for such
         Restricted Payment) shall be excluded from the calculation of amounts
         under Section 4.04(a)(3)(B);

                  (6) Investments in any Person whose primary business it is to
         directly (or indirectly through subsidiaries) own or hold licenses
         granted by the Federal Communications Commission or any other
         governmental entity with authority to grant telecommunications or
         radio frequency licenses or authorizations; provided, however, that the
         Company or a Restricted Group Member shall, at the time of making such
         Investment, have an active role in the management or operation of such
         Person and in the provision of telecommunications services by such
         Person; provided further, however, that such Investment shall be
         included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

                  (7) the exchange or purchase and retirement of (A) the Series
         C Preferred Stock for (i) exchange debentures in accordance with the
         terms of the Series C Preferred Stock or (ii) cash or Indebtedness of
         the Company or (B) the Existing Subordinated Notes for cash or
         Indebtedness of the Company; provided, however, that such exchange or
         purchase and retirement shall be excluded in the calculation of the
         amount of Restricted Payments;

                  (8) cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares
         in connection with stock splits or upon the conversion into Capital
         Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) of any security of
         the Company or any convertible Indebtedness of the Company; provided,
         however, that such exchange and retirement shall be excluded in the
         calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;
<PAGE>

                                                                              51

                  (9) Investments in Office.com, the fair market value of which
         (measured on the date each such Investment is made) does not exceed
         (x) in the case of an Investment to be made on or immediately after the
         Issue Date, $50.0 million, and (y) during each of the three 12-month
         periods following the Issue Date, $25.0 million per year (with unused
         annual amounts being carried over to future periods even if such
         periods occur after the third anniversary of the Issue Date); provided,
         however, that such Investments shall be excluded in the calculation of
         the amount of Restricted Payments; and

                  (10) Investments, the aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on
         the date each such Investment was made) of which, when taken together
         with the Fair Market Value of all other Investments made pursuant to
         this clause (10) then outstanding, does not exceed $10.0 million;
         provided, however, that such Investment shall be included in the
         calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments.

                  (c) The amounts determined pursuant to Section 4.04(a)(3)(B),
Section 4.04(b)(1) and Section 4.04(b)(5) based on Net Cash Proceeds received
from the issuance or sale of Capital Stock (or the Fair Market Value of Capital
Stock issued) shall be reduced to the extent such Net Cash Proceeds or Fair
Market Value have served as the basis for Incurring any Indebtedness pursuant to
Section 4.03(b)(6) and such Indebtedness (including any Refinancings thereof)
remains outstanding.

                  SECTION 4.05. Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from
Restricted Group Members. The Company will not, and will not permit any
Restricted Group Member to, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or
become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Group Member to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on
its Capital Stock to the Company or a Restricted Group Member or pay any
Indebtedness owed to the Company, (b) make any loans or advances to the Company
or a Restricted Group Member or (c) transfer any of its property or assets to
the Company or a Restricted Group Member, except:

                  (1) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement in
         effect at or entered into on the Issue Date;
<PAGE>

                                                                              52

                  (2) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a
         Restricted Group Member pursuant to an agreement relating to any
         Indebtedness Incurred by such Restricted Group Member on or prior to
         the date on which such Subsidiary (in the case of a Restricted
         Subsidiary) or an interest in such entity (in the case of a Permitted
         International Joint Venture) was acquired by the Company (other than
         Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any
         portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the
         transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such
         Subsidiary (in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary) or entity (in the
         case of a Permitted International Joint Venture) became a Restricted
         Group Member or was acquired by the Company) and outstanding on such
         date;

                  (3) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement
         effecting a Refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an
         agreement referred to in Section 4.05(1) or Section 4.05(2) or this
         clause (3) or contained in any amendment to an agreement referred to in
         Section 4.05(1) or Section 4.05(2) or this clause (3); provided,
         however, that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such
         Restricted Group Member contained in any such refinancing agreement or
         amendment are no less favorable to the Securityholders than
         encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Group
         Member contained in such predecessor agreements;

                  (4) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to a Permitted
         Credit Facility; provided, however, that (a) the outstanding
         Indebtedness under such Permitted Credit Facility does not exceed the
         amounts permitted under Section 4.03(b)(1), Section 4.03(b)(5) and
         Section 4.03(b)(8) (but with respect to Section 4.03(b)(8) only to the
         extent such Indebtedness constitutes Refinancing Indebtedness of
         Purchase Money Indebtedness), (b) such restrictions (other than
         following an event of default under such Permitted Credit Facility)
         permit dividends and distributions necessary to permit the Company to
         satisfy its obligations on the Securities, and (c) the chief financial
         officer of the Company determines in good faith that (1) any such
         restrictions contained in any such Permitted Credit Facility are no
         more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in a credit
         facility with terms that are commercially reasonable for a borrower
         engaged in a business comparable to the
<PAGE>

                                                                              53

         Company that has substantially comparable Indebtedness, and (2) any
         such restrictions will not materially affect the Company's ability to
         make principal, premium or interest payments on the Securities;

                  (5) any encumbrance or restriction arising under any
         applicable law or action or at the request of a governmental regulatory
         authority;

                  (6) in the case of clause (c) above, any such encumbrance or
         restriction consisting of customary non assignment provisions in
         leases, including leases in respect of data centers and indefeasible
         rights of use, governing leasehold interests to the extent such
         provisions restrict the transfer of the lease or the property leased
         thereunder;

                  (7) in the case of clause (c) above, restrictions contained in
         security agreements or mortgages securing Indebtedness of the Company
         or a Restricted Group Member to the extent such restrictions restrict
         the transfer of the property subject to such security agreements or
         mortgages;

                  (8) in the case of clause (c) above, restrictions imposed in
         connection with the grant or acquisition of radio frequency spectrum
         (to the extent such restrictions restrict the transfer of such radio
         frequency spectrum) or common carrier licenses or their equivalent (to
         the extent such restrictions restrict the transfer of such licenses);

                  (9) in the case of clause (c) above, restrictions relating to
         the property or assets of an unconsolidated Permitted International
         Joint Venture, not relating to any Indebtedness, and that do not,
         individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of the
         property or assets of the Permitted International Joint Venture in any
         material respect;

                  (10) in the case of clause (c) above, customary provisions
         arising or agreed to in the ordinary course of business, not relating
         to any Indebtedness, and that do not, individually or in the aggregate,
         detract from the value of the property or assets of the Company or any
         Restricted Group Member in any material respect; and

                  (11) any restriction with respect to a Restricted Group Member
         imposed pursuant to an agreement entered
<PAGE>

                                                                              54

         into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the
         Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Group Member pending the
         closing of such sale or disposition.

                  SECTION 4.06. Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary
Stock. (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Group Member
to, directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset Disposition unless:

                  (1) the Company or such Restricted Group Member receives
         consideration at the time of such Asset Disposition at least equal to
         the Fair Market Value (including as to the value of all noncash
         consideration), of the shares and assets subject to such Asset
         Disposition;

                  (2) at least 75% of the consideration thereof received by the
         Company or such Restricted Group Member is in the form of cash or cash
         equivalents, Marketable Securities or Telecommunications Assets; and

                  (3) an amount equal to 100% of the Net Available Cash from
         such Asset Disposition is applied by the Company (or such Restricted
         Group Member, as the case may be)

                           (A) first, to the extent the Company or such
                  Restricted Group Member elects (or is required by the terms of
                  any Indebtedness), to prepay, repay, redeem or purchase (x)
                  Senior Indebtedness of the Company that is either secured
                  Indebtedness or has a Stated Maturity prior to the Stated
                  Maturity of the Securities or (y) Indebtedness (other than any
                  Disqualified Stock) of a Restricted Group Member (in each case
                  other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of
                  the Company) within one year from the later of the date of
                  such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available
                  Cash;

                           (B) second, to the extent of the balance of such Net
                  Available Cash after application in accordance with clause
                  (A), to the extent the Company elects, to acquire
                  Telecommunications Assets within one year from the later of
                  the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net
                  Available Cash; and
<PAGE>

                                                                              55

                           (C) third, to the extent of the balance of such Net
                  Available Cash after application in accordance with clauses
                  (A) and (B), to make an offer to the holders of the Securities
                  (and to holders of other Senior Indebtedness that have a right
                  to be included in such offer) to purchase Securities (and such
                  other Senior Indebtedness) pursuant to and subject to the
                  conditions contained in Section 4.06(b);

provided, however, that in connection with any prepayment, repayment or purchase
of Indebtedness pursuant to clause (A) or (C) above, the Company or such
Restricted Group Member shall permanently retire such Indebtedness (other than
Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to the revolving loan portion of a Permitted
Credit Facility) and shall cause the related loan commitment (if any) to be
permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid,
repaid or purchased.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.06,
the Company and the Restricted Group Members will not be required to apply any
Net Available Cash in accordance with this Section 4.06 except to the extent
that the aggregate Net Available Cash from all Asset Dispositions which are not
applied in accordance with this Section 4.06 exceeds $5.0 million. Pending
application of Net Available Cash pursuant to this Section 4.06, such Net
Available Cash shall be invested in Permitted Investments.

                  For the purposes of this Section 4.06, the following are
deemed to be cash or cash equivalents:

                  (1) the assumption of Indebtedness of the Company or any
         Restricted Group Member and the release of the Company or such
         Restricted Group Member from all liability on such Indebtedness in
         connection with such Asset Disposition; and

                  (2) securities received by the Company or any Restricted Group
         Member from the transferee that are promptly converted by the Company
         or such Restricted Group Member into cash or cash equivalents.

                  (b) In the event of an Asset Disposition that requires the
purchase of Securities (and other Senior Indebtedness) pursuant to Section
4.06(a)(3)(C), the Company shall purchase Securities tendered pursuant to an
offer by the Company for the Securities (and such other Senior Indebtedness)
(the "Offer") at a purchase price of 100% of
<PAGE>

                                                                              56

their principal amount (or, if other than the Securities, 100% of their
principal amount or, in the event such other Senior Indebtedness was issued with
significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof),
without premium, plus accrued but unpaid interest (or, in respect of such other
Senior Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the
terms of such Senior Indebtedness) in accordance with the procedures (including
prorationing in the event of oversubscription) set forth in Section 4.06(c). If
the aggregate purchase price of Securities (and any other Senior Indebtedness)
tendered pursuant to the Offer exceeds the Net Available Cash allotted to their
purchase, the Company shall select the Securities and other Senior Indebtedness
to be purchased on a pro rata basis but in round denominations, which in the
case of the Securities will be denominations of $1,000 principal amount or
multiples thereof. The Company shall not be required to make an Offer to
purchase Securities (and other Senior Indebtedness) pursuant to this Section
4.06 if the Net Available Cash available therefor is less than $10.0 million
(which lesser amount shall be carried forward for purposes of determining
whether such an Offer is required with respect to the Net Available Cash from
any subsequent Asset Disposition). Upon completion of an Offer, the amount of
Net Available Cash that served as the basis for such Offer will be reset at zero
for purposes of Section 4.06(a).

                  (c) (1) Promptly, and in any event within 10 days after the
Company becomes obligated to make an Offer, the Company shall deliver to the
Trustee and send, by first-class mail to each Holder, a written notice stating
that the Holder may elect to have his Securities purchased by the Company either
in whole or in part (subject to prorating as described in Section 4.06(b) in the
event the Offer is oversubscribed) in integral multiples of $1,000 of principal
amount, at the applicable purchase price. The notice shall specify a purchase
date not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date of such notice
(the "Purchase Date") and shall contain such information concerning the business
of the Company which the Company in good faith believes will enable such Holders
to make an informed decision (which at a minimum will include (A) the most
recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K (including audited consolidated
financial statements) of the Company, the most recent subsequently filed
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company
filed subsequent to such Quarterly Report, other than Current Reports describing
Asset Dispositions otherwise described in the offering materials (or
corresponding successor reports),
<PAGE>

                                                                              57

(B) a description of material developments in the Company's business, if any,
subsequent to the date of the latest of such Reports, and (C) if material,
appropriate pro forma financial information) and all instructions and materials
necessary to tender Securities pursuant to the Offer, together with the
information contained in clause (3).

                  (2) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an
Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided below, the Company shall deliver
to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate as to (A) the amount of the Offer (the
"Offer Amount"), including information as to any other Senior Indebtedness
included in the Offer, (B) the allocation of the Net Available Cash from the
Asset Dispositions pursuant to which such Offer is being made and (C) the
compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(a) and (b). On
such date, the Company shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a
Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate
and hold in trust) in Temporary Cash Investments, maturing on the last day prior
to the Purchase Date or on the Purchase Date if funds are immediately available
by open of business, an amount equal to the Offer Amount to be held for payment
in accordance with the provisions of this Section. If the Offer includes other
Senior Indebtedness, the deposit described in the preceding sentence may be made
with any other paying agent pursuant to arrangements satisfactory to the
Trustee. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Offer remains open (the
"Offer Period"), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the
Securities or portions thereof which have been properly tendered to and are to
be accepted by the Company. The Trustee shall, on the Purchase Date, mail or
deliver payment (or cause the delivery of payment) to each tendering Holder in
the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the aggregate purchase
price of the Securities delivered by the Company to the Trustee is less than the
Offer Amount applicable to the Securities, the Trustee shall deliver the excess
to the Company immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for
application in accordance with this Section 4.06.

                  (3) Holders electing to have a Security purchased shall be
required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to
the Company at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days
prior to the Purchase Date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election
if the Trustee or the Company receives not later than two Business Days prior to
the Purchase Date, a telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the
name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security
<PAGE>

                                                                              58

which was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder
is withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased. Holders whose
Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities equal in
principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered.

                  (4) At the time the Company delivers Securities to the Trustee
which are to be accepted for purchase, the Company shall also deliver an
Officers' Certificate stating that such Securities are to be accepted by the
Company pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section. A
Security shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the
Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the
surrendering Holder.

                  (d) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with
the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities
laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to
this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or
regulations conflict with provisions of this Section, the Company shall comply
with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to
have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue of its compliance
with such securities laws or regulations.

                  SECTION 4.07. Limitation on Affiliate Transactions. (a) The
Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Group Member to, enter into
or permit to exist any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or
exchange of any property, employee compensation arrangements or the rendering of
any service) with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (an
"Affiliate Transaction") unless:

                  (1) the terms of the Affiliate Transaction are no less
         favorable to the Company or such Restricted Group Member than those
         that could be obtained at the time of the Affiliate Transaction in
         arm's-length dealings with a Person who is not an Affiliate;

                  (2) if such Affiliate Transaction or series of related
         Affiliate Transactions involves an amount in excess of $12.5 million,
         the terms of the Affiliate Transaction are set forth in writing and
         either (A) a committee of the Board of Directors a majority of whose
         members are disinterested with respect to such transaction or (B) a
         majority of the non-employee
<PAGE>

                                                                              59

         directors of the Company disinterested with respect to such Affiliate
         Transaction have determined in good faith that the criteria set forth
         in clause (1) are satisfied and that the relevant Affiliate Transaction
         is in the best interest of the Company or such Restricted Group Member
         and have approved the relevant Affiliate Transaction as evidenced by a
         Board Resolution; and

                  (3) if such Affiliate Transaction or series of related
         Affiliate Transactions involves an amount in excess of $25.0 million,
         the Board of Directors shall also have received a written opinion from
         an investment banking firm, accounting firm or appraisal firm of
         national prominence that is not an Affiliate of the Company to the
         effect that such Affiliate Transaction is fair, from a financial
         standpoint, to the Company and its Restricted Group Members.

                  (b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) will not prohibit:

                  (1) any Investment (other than a Permitted Investment) or
         other Restricted Payment, in each case permitted to be made pursuant to
         Section 4.04;

                  (2) the entering into, maintaining or performance of any
         employment contract, collective bargaining agreement, benefit plan,
         program or arrangement, related trust agreement or any other similar
         arrangement for or with any employee, officer or director heretofore
         or hereafter entered into in the ordinary course of business, including
         vacation, health, insurance, deferred compensation, retirement, savings
         or other similar plans;

                  (3) the payment of compensation, performance of
         indemnification or contribution obligations, or an issuance, grant or
         award of stock, options, or other equity-related interests or other
         securities, to employees, officers or directors in the ordinary course
         of business;

                  (4) the payment of reasonable fees to directors of the Company
         and its Restricted Group Members who are not employees of the Company
         or its Restricted Group Members;

                  (5) any transaction with a Restricted Group Member or joint
         venture or similar entity that would consti-
<PAGE>

                                                                              60

         tute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Company or a
         Restricted Group Member owns an equity interest in or otherwise
         controls such Restricted Group Member, joint venture or similar entity;

                  (6) the issuance or sale of any Capital Stock (other than
         Disqualified Stock) of the Company; and

                  (7) transactions with respect to the provision of
         Telecommunications Business services, including wireline or wireless
         transmission capacity, the lease or sharing or other use of cable or
         fiber optic lines, equipment, rights-of-way or other access rights
         between the Company or any Restricted Group Member and any other
         Person; provided, however, that, in the case of this clause (7), such
         transaction complies with Section 4.07(a)(1) and is in the best
         interest of the Company or such Restricted Group Member.

                  SECTION 4.08. Limitation on the Sale or Issuance of Capital
Stock of Restricted Group Members. The Company

                  (i) will not and will not permit any Restricted Group Member
to issue, transfer, convey, sell or otherwise dispose of any Capital Stock of
any Restricted Group Member other than to the Company or a Restricted Group
Member and

                  (ii) will not permit any Person other than the Company or a
Restricted Group Member to own any Capital Stock of any Restricted Group Member,
other than directors' qualifying shares or shares required by applicable law to
be held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Group Member

except, in each case, for:

                  (a) a sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition by the
         Company or a Restricted Group Member of 100% of the Capital Stock of a
         Restricted Group Member sold in a transaction not prohibited by Section
         4.06;

                  (b) an issuance, sale, transfer, conveyance or other
         disposition of the Capital Stock of a Restricted Group Member sold in a
         transaction not prohibited by Section 4.06 if, after giving effect
         thereto, such Restricted Group Member remains a Restricted Group Member
         and the Net Cash Proceeds of such issuance (other than an issuance by a
         Permitted International Joint Venture), sale, transfer, conveyance or
         other
<PAGE>

                                                                              61

         disposition are applied in accordance with Section 4.06;

                  (c) an issuance, sale, transfer, conveyance or other
         disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Group Member such that,

                           (1) immediately after giving effect thereto, such
                  Restricted Group Member would no longer constitute a
                  Restricted Group Member,

                           (2) any remaining Investment in such Restricted Group
                  Member by the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary would
                  have been permitted to be made at such time under Section 4.04
                  (and for purposes of Section 4.04, such Investment will be
                  deemed to have been made at such time) and

                           (3) the Net Cash Proceeds of such issuance (other
                  than an issuance by a Permitted International Joint Venture),
                  sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition are applied in
                  accordance with Section 4.06;

                  (d) Capital Stock of a Restricted Group Member issued and
         outstanding on the Issue Date or the date of formation of such
         Restricted Group Member and, in each case, held by Persons other than
         the Company or any Restricted Group Member and any additional Capital
         Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued as dividends or
         distributions on such Capital Stock or pursuant to preemptive or
         similar rights;

                  (e) Capital Stock of a Restricted Group Member issued and
         outstanding prior to the time that such Person becomes a Restricted
         Group Member; and

                  (f) any non-convertible Preferred Stock constituting
         Indebtedness and permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.03.

                  SECTION 4.09. Change of Control. (a) Upon the occurrence of a
Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right to require that the Company
purchase such Holder's Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of
the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the
date of purchase (subject to the right of
<PAGE>

                                                                              62

holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest on the
relevant interest payment date), in accordance with the terms contemplated in
Section 4.09(b).

                  (b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the
Company shall mail a notice to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee (the
"Change of Control Offer") stating:

                  (1) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder
         has the right to require the Company to purchase such Holder's
         Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal
         amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of
         purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant
         record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

                  (2) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change
         of Control (including information with respect to pro forma historical
         income, cash flow and capitalization, each after giving effect to such
         Change of Control);

                  (3) the purchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days
         nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

                  (4) the instructions determined by the Company, consistent
         with this Section, that a Holder must follow in order to have its
         Securities purchased.

                  (c) Holders electing to have a Security purchased will be
required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to
the Company at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days
prior to the purchase date. Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election
if the Trustee or the Company receives not later than two Business Days prior to
the purchase date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting
forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was
delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is
withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased.

                  (d) On the purchase date, all Securities purchased by the
Company under this Section shall be delivered by the Company to the Trustee for
cancellation, and the Company shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and
unpaid interest, if any, to the Holders entitled thereto.
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                                                                              63

                  (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section,
the Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a
Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the
manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth
in this Section applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and
purchases all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of
Control Offer.

                  (f) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with
the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities
laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to
this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or
regulations conflict with provisions of this Section, the Company shall comply
with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to
have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue of its compliance
with such securities laws or regulations.

                  SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Liens. The Company will not, and
will not permit any Restricted Group Member to, directly or indirectly, Incur or
suffer to exist or become effective any Lien (the "Initial Lien") of any nature
whatsoever on any of its property (including Capital Stock), whether owned at
the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, or upon any income or profits therefrom
(other than Permitted Liens) to secure any Indebtedness, without effectively
providing that the Securities shall be secured (1) equally and ratably with (or
prior to) the Indebtedness so secured for so long as such Indebtedness is so
secured or (2) in the event such Indebtedness constitutes Subordinated
Obligations, prior to such Indebtedness for so long as such Indebtedness is so
secured.

                  Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the
Securities pursuant to this Section shall provide by its terms that such Lien
shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the
release and discharge of the Initial Lien.

                  SECTION 4.11. Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions. The
Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Group Member to, directly
or indirectly, enter into, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable with
<PAGE>

                                                                              64

respect to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with respect to any property unless:

                  (1) the Company or such Restricted Group Member would be
         entitled to (A) Incur Indebtedness in an amount equal to the
         Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction
         pursuant to Section 4.03 and (B) create a Lien on such property
         securing such Attributable Debt without equally and ratably securing
         the Securities pursuant to Section 4.10;

                  (2) the net proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted
         Group Member in connection with such Sale/Leaseback Transaction are at
         least equal to the Fair Market Value of such property; and

                  (3) the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in
         compliance with Section 4.06.

                  SECTION 4.12. Compliance Certificate. The Company shall
deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the
Company an Officers' Certificate stating that in the course of the performance
by the signers of their duties as Officers of the Company they would normally
have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default
that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the
Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take
with respect thereto. The Company also shall comply with TIA ss. 314(a)(4).

                  SECTION 4.13. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of
the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and
do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more
effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

                                    ARTICLE 5

                                Successor Company

                  SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets. (a)
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey,
transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of transactions, directly or
<PAGE>

                                                                              65

indirectly, all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:

                  (1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the
         "Successor Company") shall be a Person organized and existing under the
         laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District
         of Columbia and the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall
         expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and
         delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the
         obligations of the Company under the Securities, this Indenture and the
         Registration Rights Agreement;

                  (2) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such
         transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation
         of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary as a result of such
         transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such
         Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have
         occurred and be continuing;

                  (3) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such
         transaction, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Successor Company
         shall be no worse than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Company
         determined immediately prior to such transaction;

                  (4) if, as a result of any such transaction, property or
         assets of the Successor Company would become subject to a Lien subject
         to Section 4.10, the Successor Company shall have secured the
         Securities as required by said Section; and

                  (5) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
         Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such
         consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if
         any) comply with this Indenture;

provided, however, that clauses (3) and (4) will not be applicable to (A) a
Restricted Subsidiary consolidating with, merging into or transferring all or
part of its properties and assets to the Company or (B) the Company merging with
an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose and with the sole effect of
reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction.
<PAGE>

                                                                              66

                  The Successor Company shall be the successor to the Company
and shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and
power of, the Company under this Indenture, but the predecessor Company in the
case of a conveyance, transfer or lease shall not be released from the
obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                              Defaults and Remedies

                  SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. An "Event of Default" occurs
if:

                  (1) the Company defaults in any payment of interest on any
         Security when the same becomes due and payable, and such default
         continues for a period of 30 days;

                  (2) the Company (i) defaults in the payment of the principal
         of any Security when the same becomes due and payable at its Stated
         Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon declaration or otherwise, or
         (ii) fails to redeem or purchase Securities when required pursuant to
         this Indenture or the Securities;

                  (3) the Company fails to comply with Section 5.01;

                  (4) the Company fails to comply with Section 4.02, 4.03, 4.04,
         4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10 or 4.11 (other than a failure to
         purchase Securities when required under Section 4.06 or 4.09) and such
         failure continues for 30 days after the notice specified below;

                  (5) the Company fails to comply with any of its agreements in
         the Securities or this Indenture (other than those referred to in
         clause (1), (2), (3) or (4) above) and such failure continues for 60
         days after the notice specified below;

                  (6) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Group Member
         is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or
         is accelerated by the holders thereof because of a default and the
         total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $25.0
         million, or its foreign currency equivalent at the time;
<PAGE>

                                                                              67

                  (7) the Company or any Significant Restricted Group Member
         pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

                           (A) commences a voluntary case;

                           (B) consents to the entry of an order for relief
                  against it in an involuntary case;

                           (C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it
                  or for any substantial part of its property; or

                           (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of
                  its creditors;

         or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to
         insolvency;

                  (8) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or
         decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

                           (A) is for relief against the Company or any
                  Significant Restricted Group Member in an involuntary case;

                           (B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any
                  Significant Restricted Group Member or for any substantial
                  part of its property; or

                           (C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the
                  Company or any Significant Restricted Group Member;

         or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order
         or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

                  (9) any judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess
         of $25.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent at the time is
         entered against the Company or any Restricted Group Member, remains
         outstanding for a period of 60 consecutive days following the entry of
         such judgment or decree and is not discharged, waived or the execution
         thereof stayed within 10 days after the notice specified below.

                  The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the
reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary
or is effected by
<PAGE>

                                                                              68

operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or
any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

                  The term "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, United States Code,
or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term
"Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or
similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

                  A Default under clauses (4), (5) or (9) is not an Event of
Default until the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of
the outstanding Securities notify the Company of the Default and the Company
does not cure such Default within the time specified after receipt of such
notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and
state that such notice is a "Notice of Default".

                  The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after
the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers' Certificate
of any Event of Default under clause (6) and any event which with the giving of
notice or the lapse of time would become an Event of Default under clause (4),
(5) or (9), its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take
with respect thereto.

                  SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than
an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the
Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities by notice to the
Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid
interest on all the Securities to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration,
such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the Company occurs,
the principal of and interest on all the Securities shall ipso facto become and
be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part
of the Trustee or any Securityholders. The Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Securities by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration
and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or
decree and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except
nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of
acceleration. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair
any right consequent thereto.
<PAGE>

                                                                              69

                  SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs
and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the
payment of principal of or interest on the Securities or to enforce the
performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.

                  The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not
possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding.
A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Securityholder in exercising any right
or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy
or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is
exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

                  SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Securities by notice to the Trustee may
waive an existing Default and its consequences except (i) a Default in the
payment of the principal of or interest on a Security (ii) a Default arising
from the failure to redeem or purchase any Security when required pursuant to
this Indenture or (iii) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section
9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Securityholder affected. When
a Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

                  SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority
in principal amount of the Securities may direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may
refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or,
subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to
the rights of other Securityholders or would involve the Trustee in personal
liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed
proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to
taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification
satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused
by taking or not taking such action.

                  SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits. Except to enforce the right
to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no
Securityholder may pursue
<PAGE>

                                                                              70

any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities unless:

                  (1) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice stating
         that an Event of Default is continuing;

                  (2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
         Securities make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

                  (3) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee reasonable
         security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;

                  (4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60
         days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or
         indemnity; and

                  (5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
         Securities do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the
         request during such 60-day period.

                  A Securityholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the
rights of another Securityholder or to obtain a preference or priority over
another Securityholder.

                  SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder
to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Securities held by such
Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Securities, or to
bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective
dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

                  SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the
Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust
against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with
interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided
for in Section 7.07.

                  SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee
may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary
or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Securityholders
allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors or
its property and, unless prohibited by law
<PAGE>

                                                                              71

or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of
a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any
Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to
make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to
the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any
amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due
the Trustee under Section 7.07.

                  SECTION 6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money
or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property
in the following order:

                  FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

                  SECOND: to Securityholders for amounts due and unpaid on the
         Securities for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or
         priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the
         Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

                  THIRD: to the Company.

                  The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any
payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before
such record date, the Company shall mail to each Securityholder and the Trustee
a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

                  SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the
enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against
the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its
discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an
undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may
assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any
party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of
the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply
to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit
by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities.
<PAGE>

                                                                              72

                  SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company
(to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall not at any time insist upon, or
plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of,
any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in
force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and
the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives
all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede
the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and
permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

                                    ARTICLE 7

                                     Trustee

                  SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers
vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in
their exercise as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances
in the conduct of such Person's own affairs.

                  (b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

                  (1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only
         such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no
         implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture
         against the Trustee; and

                  (2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
         conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
         correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or
         opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements
         of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates
         and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the
         requirements of this Indenture.

                  (c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its
own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own wilful
misconduct, except that:

                  (1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b)
         of this Section;
<PAGE>

                                                                              73

                  (2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment
         made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the
         Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

                  (3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action
         it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction
         received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.

                  (d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates
to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

                  (e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money
received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.

                  (f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law.

                  (g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its
rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment
of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.

                  (h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct
or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be
subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the TIA.

                  SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee. (a) The Trustee may rely on
any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated
in the document.

                  (b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may
require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not
be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on
the Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

                  (c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be
responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.
<PAGE>

                                                                              74

                  (d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or
omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its
rights or powers; provided, however, that the Trustee's conduct does not
constitute wilful misconduct or negligence.

                  (e) The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice or
opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and
the Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from
liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder
in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

                  SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its
individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities
and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights
it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar
or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must
comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

                  SECTION 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be
responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of
this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company's
use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any
statement of the Company in the Indenture or in any document issued in
connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the
Trustee's certificate of authentication.

                  SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is
continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each
Securityholder notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in
the case of a Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security
(including payments pursuant to the mandatory redemption provisions of such
Security, if any), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a
committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the
notice is in the interests of Securityholders.

                  SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. As promptly as
practicable after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of
this Indenture, and in any event prior to July 15 in each year, the Trustee
shall mail to each Securityholder a brief report dated as of May 15
<PAGE>

                                                                              75

that complies with TIA ss. 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA ss.
313(b).

                  A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to
Securityholders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on
which the Securities are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the
Trustee whenever the Securities become listed on any stock exchange and of any
delisting thereof.

                  SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall
pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services.
The Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon
request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it,
including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services.
Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee's agents, counsel, accountants and
experts. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss,
liability or expense (including attorneys' fees) incurred by it in connection
with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties
hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which
it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not
relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the
claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the
fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not reimburse any expense or
indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through
the Trustee's own wilful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

                  To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section,
the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property
held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to
pay principal of and interest on particular Securities.

                  The Company's payment obligations pursuant to this Section
shall survive the discharge of this Indenture. When the Trustee incurs expenses
after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with
respect to the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under the Bankruptcy Law.
<PAGE>

                                                                              76

                  SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign
at any time by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and
may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

                  (1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

                  (2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

                  (3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the
         Trustee or its property; or

                  (4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

                  If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities and such Holders do
not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in
the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred
to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a
successor Trustee.

                  A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the
successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee
under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its
succession to Securityholders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all
property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien
provided for in Section 7.07.

                  If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days
after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the
Holders of 10% in principal amount of the Securities may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

                  If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any
Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal
of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

                  Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to
this Section, the Company's obligations under
<PAGE>

                                                                              77

Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

                  SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee
consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially
all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking
association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any
further act shall be the successor Trustee.

                  In case at the time such successor or successors by merger,
conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created
by this Indenture any of the Securities shall have been authenticated but not
delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of
authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so
authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have
been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such
Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the
successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the
full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided
that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

                  SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall
at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA ss. 310(a). The Trustee shall have
a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most
recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA
ss. 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation
of TIA ss. 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or
certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company
are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA ss.
310(b)(1) are met.

                  SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against
Company. The Trustee shall comply with TIA ss. 311(a), excluding any creditor
relationship listed in TIA ss. 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been
removed shall be subject to TIA ss. 311(a) to the extent indicated.
<PAGE>

                                                                              78

                                    ARTICLE 8

                       Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance

                  SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Securities;
Defeasance. (a) When (1) the Company delivers to the Trustee all outstanding
Securities (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.07) for
cancellation or (2) all outstanding Securities have become due and payable,
whether at maturity or on a redemption date as a result of the mailing of a
notice of redemption pursuant to Article 3 hereof and the Company irrevocably
deposits with the Trustee funds sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption
all outstanding Securities, including interest thereon to maturity or such
redemption date (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.07), and
if in either case the Company pays all other sums payable hereunder by the
Company, then this Indenture shall, subject to Section 8.01(c), cease to be of
further effect. The Trustee shall acknowledge satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and
an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company.

                  (b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Company at any
time may terminate (1) all its obligations under the Securities and this
Indenture ("legal defeasance option") or (2) its obligations under Sections
4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10 and 4.11 and the operation
of Sections 6.01(4), 6.01(6), 6.01(7), 6.01(8) and 6.01(9) (but, in the case of
Sections 6.01(7) and (8), with respect only to Significant Restricted Group
Members) and the limitations contained in Sections 5.01(a)(3) and (4) ("covenant
defeasance option"). The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option
notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

                  If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment
of the Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with
respect thereto. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option,
payment of the Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default
specified in Sections 6.01(4), 6.01(6), 6.01(7), 6.01(8) and 6.01(9) (but, in
the case of Sections 6.01(7) and (8), with respect only to Significant
Restricted Group Members) or because of the failure of the Company to comply
with Section 5.01(a)(3) or (4).
<PAGE>

                                                                              79

                  Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon
request of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge
of those obligations that the Company terminates.

                  (c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company's
obligations in Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 7.07 and 7.08 and in
this Article 8 shall survive until the Securities have been paid in full.
Thereafter, the Company's obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.04 and 8.05 shall
survive.

                  SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance. The Company may
exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

                  (1) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee
         money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of
         and interest on the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case
         may be;

                  (2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a
         nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their
         opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and
         without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus
         any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times
         and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal and interest
         when due on all the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case
         may be;

                  (3) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the
         123-day period no Default specified in Sections 6.01(7) or (8) with
         respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the
         period;

                  (4) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other
         agreement binding on the Company;

                  (5) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
         to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not
         constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under
         the Investment Company Act of 1940;

                  (6) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Company
         shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that
         (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the
<PAGE>

                                                                              80

         Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the date of this
         Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax
         law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion
         of Counsel shall confirm that, the Securityholders will not recognize
         income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of
         such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same
         amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been
         the case if such defeasance had not occurred;

                  (7) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Company
         shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
         that the Securityholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for
         Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance
         and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the
         same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
         covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

                  (8) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers'
         Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
         precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Securities as
         contemplated by this Article 8 have been complied with.

                  Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date in
accordance with Article 3.

                  SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall
hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant
to this Article 8. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S.
Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this
Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities.

                  SECTION 8.04. Repayment to Company. The Trustee and the Paying
Agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or
securities held by them at any time.

                  Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee
and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by
them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two
years, and, thereafter, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the
Company for payment as general creditors.
<PAGE>

                                                                              81

                  SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for Government Obligations. The
Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other
charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or
the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

                  SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is
unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this
Article 8 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or
judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or
otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company's obligations under this
Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no
deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 8 until such time as the Trustee
or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government
Obligations in accordance with this Article 8; provided, however, that, if the
Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities
because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated
to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the
money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

                                    ARTICLE 9

                                   Amendments

                  SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders. The Company and the
Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without notice to or consent
of any Securityholder:

                  (1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

                  (2) to comply with Article 5;

                  (3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or
         in place of certificated Securities; provided, however, that the
         uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of
         Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the uncertificated
         Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

                  (4) to add guarantees with respect to the Securities or to
         secure the Securities;
<PAGE>

                                                                              82

                  (5) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of
         the Holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon
         the Company;

                  (6) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection
         with qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, this Indenture
         under the TIA; or

                  (7) to make any change that does not adversely affect the
         rights of any Securityholder.

                  After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the
Company shall mail to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such
amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect
therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this
Section.

                  SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders. The Company and the
Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without notice to any
Securityholder but with the written consent of the Holders of at least a
majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding (including
consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the
Securities). However, without the consent of each Securityholder affected
thereby, an amendment may not:

                  (1) reduce the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent
         to an amendment;

                  (2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of
         interest on any Security;

                  (3) reduce the principal amount of or extend the Stated
         Maturity of any Security;

                  (4) reduce the amount payable upon the redemption of any
         Security or change the time at which any Security may be redeemed in
         accordance with Article 3;

                  (5) make any Security payable in money other than that stated
         in the Security;

                  (6) make any changes in the ranking or priority of any
         Security that would adversely affect the Securityholders; or

                  (7) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 or the second
         sentence of this Section.
<PAGE>

                                                                              83

                  It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under
this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it
shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

                  After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the
Company shall mail to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such
amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect
therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this
Section.

                  SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every
amendment to this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the TIA as then
in effect.

                  SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers. A
consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the
Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security
that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Security, even if
notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such
Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such
Holder's Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice
of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. After
an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Securityholder.
An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the execution of such amendment or
waiver by the Trustee.

                  The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record
date for the purpose of determining the Securityholders entitled to give their
consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be
taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then
notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were
Securityholders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only
those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent
previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons
continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or
effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

                  SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an
amendment changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of
the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate
notation on the Security regarding the changed terms and
<PAGE>

                                                                              84

return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so
determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee
shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to
make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the
validity of such amendment.

                  SECTION 9.06. Trustee To Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall
sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment does
not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the
Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such
amendment the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably
satisfactory to it and to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully
protected in relying upon, an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel
stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

                  SECTION 9.07. Payment for Consent. Neither the Company nor any
Affiliate of the Company shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid
any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder
for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms
or provisions of this Indenture or the Securities unless such consideration is
offered to be paid to all Holders that so consent, waive or agree to amend in
the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent,
waiver or agreement.

                                   ARTICLE 10

                                  Miscellaneous

                  SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision
of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is
required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the required provision
shall control.
<PAGE>

                                                                              85

                  SECTION 10.02. Notices. Any notice or communication shall be
in writing and delivered in person, mailed by first-class mail or transmitted by
facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt) addressed as follows:

                  if to the Company:

                           Winstar Communications, Inc.
                           685 Third Avenue
                           Thirty-first Floor
                           New York, New York 10017
                           Facsimile: 212-584-4001

                           Attention of General Counsel

                  if to the Trustee:

                           United States Trust Company of New York
                           114 West 47th Street
                           New York, New York 10036-1532
                           Facsimile: 212-852-1627

                           Attention of Corporate Trust Division

                  The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.

                  Any notice or communication mailed to a Security holder shall
be mailed to the Securityholder at the Securityholder's address as it appears on
the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so
mailed within the time prescribed.

                  Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder
or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other
Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided
above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

                  SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders may communicate pursuant to TIA ss. 312(b) with other
Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the
Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have
the protection of TIA ss. 312(c).

                  SECTION 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions
Precedent. Upon any request or application by
<PAGE>

                                                                              86

the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this
Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

                  (1) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
         satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the
         signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
         Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

                  (2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
         satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such
         counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

                  SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or
condition provided for in this Indenture shall include:

                  (1) a statement that the individual making such certificate or
         opinion has read such covenant or condition;

                  (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the
         examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions
         contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

                  (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he
         has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable
         him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant
         or condition has been complied with; and

                  (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
         individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

                  SECTION 10.06. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of
Securityholders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules
for their functions.

                  SECTION 10.07. Legal Holidays. A "Legal Holiday" is a
Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are not required to be
open in the State of New York. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment
shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no
interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a
<PAGE>

                                                                              87

regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.

                  SECTION 10.08. Governing Law. This Indenture and the
Securities shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
the State of New York but without giving effect to applicable principles of
conflicts of law to the extent that the application of the laws of another
jurisdiction would be required thereby.

                  SECTION 10.09. No Recourse Against Others. A director,
officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or this
Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such
obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder
shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part
of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

                  SECTION 10.10. Successors. All agreements of the Company in
this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of
the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

                  SECTION 10.11. Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any
number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but
all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to
prove this Indenture.

                  SECTION 10.12. Table of Contents; Headings. The table of
contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of
this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not
intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of
the terms or provisions hereof.
<PAGE>

                                                                              88

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to
be duly executed as of the date first written above.

                                    WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,

                                    by /s/ Frederic E. Rubin
                                    -------------------------------
                                    Name:  Frederic E. Rubin
                                    Title: Senior Vice President, Treasurer

                                    UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY
                                    OF NEW YORK,

                                    by /s/ Gerard F. Ganey
                                    -------------------------------
                                    Name:  Gerard F. Ganey
                                    Title: Senior Vice President

<PAGE>

                                                 RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

                   PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL SECURITIES,
                           PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES
                             AND EXCHANGE SECURITIES

         1. Definitions

         1.1  Definitions

         For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated below:

                  "Depository" means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees
and their respective successors.

                  "Exchange Securities" means the 12-1/2% Senior Notes Due 2008
issued pursuant to the Indenture in connection with a Registered Exchange Offer
pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.

                  "Initial Purchasers" means the entities identified as
Purchasers in the Purchase Agreement.

                  "Initial Securities" means $325,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of 12-1/2% Senior Notes Due 2010 issued on the Issue Date.

                  "Private Exchange" means the offer by the Company, pursuant to
a Registration Rights Agreement, to the Initial Purchasers to issue and deliver
to each Initial Purchaser, in exchange for the Initial Securities held by the
Initial Purchaser as part of its initial distribution, a like aggregate
principal amount of Private Exchange Securities.

                  "Private Exchange Securities" means any 12-1/2% Senior Notes
Due 2008 issued in connection with a Private Exchange.

                  "Purchase Agreement" means the Purchase Agreement dated March
27, 2000 among the Company and the Initial Purchasers.

                  "QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in
Rule 144A.

                  "Registered Exchange Offer" means the offer by the Company,
pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial
Securities, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial
Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Securities registered
under the Securities Act.
<PAGE>

                                                                               2

                  "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement dated April 10, 2000, among the Company and the Initial Purchasers.

                  "Securities" means the Initial Securities, the Exchange
Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, treated as a single class.

                  "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933.

                  "Securities Custodian" means the custodian with respect to a
Global Security (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person
thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

                  "Shelf Registration Statement" means the registration
statement issued by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of Initial
Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to a Registration Rights
Agreement.

                  "Transfer Restricted Securities" means Securities that bear or
are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b) hereto.

         1.2  Other Definitions

                                                                     Defined in
                  Term                                                 Section:
                  ----                                                 -------

         "Agent Members".................................................2.1(b)
         "Global Security"...............................................2.1(a)
         "Regulation S"..................................................2.1(a)
         "Restricted Global Security"....................................2.1(a)
         "Rule 144A".....................................................2.1(a)

         2. The Securities.

         2.1 (a) Form and Dating. Initial Securities offered and sold to a QIB
in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A") or in reliance
on Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S"), in each case as
provided in a Purchase Agreement, and Private Exchange Securities, as provided
in a Registration Rights Agreement, shall be issued initially in the form of one
or more permanent global Securities in definitive, fully registered form without
interest coupons with the global securities legend and restricted securities
legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (each, a "Restricted Global Security"),
which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Initial Securities
represented thereby with the Trustee, at its principal corporate trust office,
as custodian for the
<PAGE>

                                                                               3

Depository (or with such other custodian as the Depository may direct), and
registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly
executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter
provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Securities may from time
to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the
Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided. Exchange
Securities shall be issued in global form (with the global securities legend set
forth in Exhibit 1 hereto) or in certificated form at the option of the Holders
thereof from time to time. Exchange Securities issued in global form and
Restricted Global Securities are sometimes referred to in this Appendix as
"Global Securities."

                  (b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply
only to a Global Security deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

                  The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance
with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global
Securities that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such
Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depository and (b)
shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such
Depository's instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the
Depository.

                  Members of, or participants in, the Depository ("Agent
Members") shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global
Security held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Trustee as the
custodian of the Depository or under such Global Security, and the Company, the
Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat
the Depository as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes
whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the
Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving
effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by
the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the
operation of customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of
the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Security.

                  (c) Certificated Securities. Except as provided in this
Section 2.1 or Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Restricted
Global Securities shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of
certificated Securities.
<PAGE>

                                                                               4

         2.2 Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) on
the Issue Date, an aggregate principal amount of $325,000,000 12-1/2% Senior
Notes Due 2008 and (2) Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities for
issue only in a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, respectively,
pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, for a like principal amount of
Initial Securities, in each case upon a written order of the Company signed by
two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities
to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to
be authenticated.

         2.3  Transfer and Exchange.

                  (a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities. (i) The
transfer and exchange of Global Securities or beneficial interests therein shall
be effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture (including
applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures
of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global
Security shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with
the Depository's procedures containing information regarding the participant
account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the
Global Security. The Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions
instruct the Depository to credit to the account of the Person specified in such
instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Security and to debit the
account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global
Security being transferred.

                  (ii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix
(other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Security may not
be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the
Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another
nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a
successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

                  (iii) In the event that a Restricted Global Security is
exchanged for Securities in certificated registered form pursuant to Section 2.4
of this Appendix, prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or
the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such
Securities, such Securities may be exchanged only in accordance with such
procedures as are substantially
<PAGE>

                                                                               5

consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification
requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Securities intended to
ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S, as the case
may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the
Company.

                  (b)  Legend.

                  (i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii),
         (iii) and (iv), each Security certificate evidencing the Restricted
         Global Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in
         substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the
         following form:

                  THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A
                  TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
                  OF 1933 (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE
                  OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH
                  REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH
                  PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER
                  OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE
                  PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE
                  144A THEREUNDER.

                  THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
                  COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED
                  OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) TO THE COMPANY, (II) IN THE
                  UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES
                  IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A
                  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
                  REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (III) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN
                  AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE
                  SECURITIES ACT, (IV) PURSUANT TO EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION
                  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF
                  AVAILABLE) OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
                  STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I)
                  THROUGH (V) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS
                  OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL,
                  AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY
                  PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS
                  REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.
<PAGE>

                                                                               6

                  (ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted
         Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a
         Restricted Global Security) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities
         Act, the Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange such
         Transfer Restricted Security for a certificated Security that does not
         bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the
         transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security, if the transferor
         thereof certifies in writing to the Registrar that such sale or
         transfer was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in
         the form set forth on the reverse of the Security).

                  (iii) After a transfer of any Initial Securities or Private
         Exchange Securities pursuant to and during the period of the
         effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such
         Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be,
         all requirements pertaining to legends on such Initial Security or such
         Private Exchange Security will cease to apply, the requirements
         requiring any such Initial Security or such Private Exchange Security
         issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will cease to apply,
         and a certificated Initial Security or Private Exchange Security or an
         Initial Security or Private Exchange Security in global form, in each
         case without restrictive transfer legends, will be available to the
         transferee of the Holder of such Initial Securities or Private Exchange
         Securities upon exchange of such transferring Holder's certificated
         Initial Security or Private Exchange Security or directions to transfer
         such Holder's interest in the Global Security, as applicable.

                  (iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with
         respect to the Initial Securities, all requirements pertaining to such
         Initial Securities that Initial Securities issued to certain Holders be
         issued in global form will still apply with respect to Holders of such
         Initial Securities that do not exchange their Initial Securities, and
         Exchange Securities in certificated or global form will be available to
         Holders that exchange such Initial Securities in such Registered
         Exchange Offer.

                  (v) Upon the consummation of a Private Exchange with respect
         to the Initial Securities, all requirements pertaining to such Initial
         Securities that Initial Securities issued to certain Holders be issued
         in global form will still apply with respect to Holders
<PAGE>

                                                                               7

         of such Initial Securities that do not exchange their Initial
         Securities, and Private Exchange Securities in global form with the
         global securities legend and the Restricted Securities Legend set forth
         in Exhibit 1 hereto will be available to Holders that exchange such
         Initial Securities in such Private Exchange.

                  (c) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Security. At such
time as all beneficial interests in a Global Security have either been exchanged
for certificated Securities, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global
Security shall be returned to the Depository for cancellation or retained and
canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any
beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for certificated
Securities, redeemed, purchased or canceled, the principal amount of Securities
represented by such Global Security shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be
made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Securities
Custodian for such Global Security) with respect to such Global Security, by the
Trustee or the Securities Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

                  (d) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of
Securities.

                  (i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the
         Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate certificated
         Securities and Global Securities at the Registrar's or co-registrar's
         request.

                  (ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of
         transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum
         sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar
         governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any
         such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge
         payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.06, 4.09
         and 9.05 of the Indenture).

                  (iii) The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to
         register the transfer of or exchange of any Security for a period
         beginning 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer
         to repurchase or redeem Securities or 15 Business Days before an
         interest payment date.

                  (iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration of
         transfer of any Security, the Company, the
<PAGE>

                                                                               8

         Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar may deem
         and treat the person in whose name a Security is registered as the
         absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of
         principal of and interest on such Security and for all other purposes
         whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the
         Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any
         co-registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

                  (v) All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange
         pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall evidence the same debt and
         shall be entitled to the same benefits under the Indenture as the
         Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

                  (e)  No Obligation of the Trustee.

                  (i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to
         any beneficial owner of a Global Security, a member of, or a
         participant in the Depository or other Person with respect to the
         accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any
         participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest
         in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant,
         member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of
         any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any
         amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and
         communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made
         to Holders under the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon
         the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or
         its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial
         owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the
         Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the
         Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in
         relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to
         its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

                  (ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor,
         determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer
         imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to
         any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers
         between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners
         in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such
         certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly
<PAGE>

                                                                               9

         required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms
         of the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial
         compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

         2.4  Certificated Securities.

                  (a) A Restricted Global Security deposited with the Depository
or with the Trustee as custodian for the Depository pursuant to Section 2.1
shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of
certificated Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal
amount of such Global Security, in exchange for such Global Security, only if
such transfer complies with Section 2.3 and (i) the Depository notifies the
Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such
Restricted Global Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a
"clearing agency" registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary
is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, (ii) an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing or (iii) the Company, in its sole
discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance
of certificated Securities under the Indenture.

                  (b) Any Restricted Global Security that is transferable to the
beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section shall be surrendered by the
Depository to the Trustee located at its principal corporate trust office in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, to be so transferred, in whole or
from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Restricted Global
Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated Initial Securities
of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Restricted Global Security
transferred pursuant to this Section shall be executed, authenticated and
delivered only in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and any integral
multiple thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct.
Any certificated Initial Security or Private Exchange Security delivered in
exchange for an interest in the Restricted Global Security shall, except as
otherwise provided by Section 2.3(b), bear the restricted securities legend set
forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

                  (c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b), the
registered Holder of a Global Security shall be entitled to grant proxies and
otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may
hold interests
<PAGE>

                                                                              10

through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take
under the Indenture or the Securities.

                  (d) In the event of the occurrence of either of the events
specified in Section 2.4(a), the Company shall promptly make available to the
Trustee a reasonable supply of certificated Securities in definitive, fully
registered form without interest coupons.
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT 1
                                                                              to
                                                 RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

                       [FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

                           [Global Securities Legend]

                  UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"),
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER,
EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY GLOBAL SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF
CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER
USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS
THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

                  TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO
TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR
THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL
SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS
SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

                         [Restricted Securities Legend]

                  THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A
TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE
"SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION
THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF
THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5
OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

                  THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) TO THE COMPANY, (II) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM
THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN
RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
RULE 144A, (III) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION
FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF
AVAILABLE) OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I)
<PAGE>

                                                                               2

THROUGH (V) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF
THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS
REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE
RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.
<PAGE>

No.:                                                            $
     ----------------------                                       -------------

CUSIP No.:
           ----------------
ISIN No.:
          -----------------
Common Code No.:
                 ----------

                          12-1/2% Senior Notes Due 2008

                  Winstar Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation, promises
to pay to                       , or registered assigns, the principal sum of
__________ Dollars on April 15, 2008.

                  Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15.

                  Record Dates: April 1 and October 1.

                  Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the
other side of this Security.

Dated:

                                             WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,

                                             by
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

                                             by
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
     AUTHENTICATION

UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY
  OF NEW YORK,
  as Trustee, certifies
           that this is one of
           the Securities referred
           to in the Indenture.

by
   -----------------------------
       Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>

                   [FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

                          12-1/2% Senior Notes Due 2008

1. Interest

                  Winstar Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (such
corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to, being herein called the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the
principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above; provided,
however, that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) occurs, additional interest will accrue on this Security at a rate of
0.25% per annum (increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum after each
consecutive 90-day period that occurs after the date on which such Registration
Default occurs up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.00%) from and
including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but
excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured. The
Company will pay interest semiannually on April 15 and October 15 of each year,
commencing October 15, 2000. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the
most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been
paid, from April 10, 2000. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months. The Company will pay interest on overdue principal
at 1% per annum in excess of the above rate and will pay interest on overdue
installments of interest at such higher rate to the extent lawful.

2. Method of Payment

                  The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except
defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Securities at
the close of business on the April 1 or October 1 next preceding the interest
payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or
before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying
Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest
in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for
payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities
represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest)
will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts
specified by The Depository Trust Company. The
<PAGE>

                                                                               2

Company will make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including
principal, premium and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of
each Holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on a certificated Security
will be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee
with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer
by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect
designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the
relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in
its discretion).

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

                  Initially, United States Trust Company of New York, a New York
corporation (the "Trustee"), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company
may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without
notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

4. Indenture

                  The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as
of April 10, 2000 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and the Trustee. The
terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made
part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
ss.ss. 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the "Act").
Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and
Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of
those terms.

                  The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the
Company. The Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date and all Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued in exchange therefor will be
treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture. The Indenture
contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its Restricted
Group Members to incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends or distributions
on, or redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; issue or sell
capital stock of Restricted Group Members; engage in transactions with
affiliates; create liens on assets;
<PAGE>

                                                                               3

transfer or sell assets; guarantee indebtedness; restrict dividends or other
payments of Restricted Group Members; consolidate, merge or transfer all or
substantially all of its assets and the assets of its subsidiaries; and engage
in sale/leaseback transactions. These covenants are subject to important
exceptions and qualifications.

5. Optional Redemption

                  The Company shall not be entitled to redeem the Securities at
its option prior to maturity.

6. Put Provisions

                  Upon a Change of Control, any Holder of Securities will have
the right to cause the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Securities
of such Holder at a repurchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of
the Securities to be repurchased plus accrued interest to the date of
repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record
date to receive interest due on the related interest payment date) as provided
in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

                  The Securities are in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder
may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The
Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate
endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law
or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of
or exchange any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a
Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed)
or any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be
redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date.

8. Persons Deemed Owners

                  The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the
owner of it for all purposes.
<PAGE>

                                                                               4

9. Unclaimed Money

                  If money for the payment of principal or interest remains
unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to
the Company at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another
Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to
the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.

10. Discharge and Defeasance

                  Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time shall
be entitled to terminate some or all of its obligations under the Securities and
the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government
Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Securities to
redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

11. Amendment, Waiver

                  Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i)
the Indenture and the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities
and (ii) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the
written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of
the Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture,
without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company and the Trustee shall be
entitled to amend the Indenture or the Securities to cure any ambiguity,
omission, defect or inconsistency, or to comply with Article 5 of the Indenture,
or to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of
certificated Securities, or to add guarantees with respect to the Securities or
to secure the Securities, or to add additional covenants or surrender rights and
powers conferred on the Company, or to comply with any request of the SEC in
connection with qualifying the Indenture under the Act, or to make any change
that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder.

12. Defaults and Remedies

                  Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (i) default for
30 days in payment of interest on the Securities; (ii) default in payment of
principal on the Securities at maturity, upon redemption pursuant to paragraph 5
of the Securities, upon acceleration or other-
<PAGE>

                                                                               5

wise, or failure by the Company to purchase Securities when required; (iii)
failure by the Company to comply with other agreements in the Indenture or the
Securities, in certain cases subject to notice and lapse of time; (iv) certain
accelerations (including failure to pay within any grace period after final
maturity) of other Indebtedness of the Company if the amount accelerated (or so
unpaid) exceeds $25.0 million; (v) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency
with respect to the Company and the Significant Restricted Group Members; and
(vi) certain judgments or decrees for the payment of money in excess of $25.0
million. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities may declare all
the Securities to be due and payable immediately. Certain events of bankruptcy
or insolvency are Events of Default which will result in the Securities being
due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

                  Securityholders may not enforce the Indenture or the
Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to
enforce the Indenture or the Securities unless it receives indemnity or security
satisfactory to it. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any
trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Securityholders notice of any
continuing Default (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it
determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

13. Trustee Dealings with the Company

                  Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee
under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the
owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect
obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may other wise deal
with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were
not Trustee.

14. No Recourse Against Others

                  A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the
Company or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the
Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in
respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a
Security, each Securityholder waives
<PAGE>

                                                                               6

and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the issue of the Securities.

15. Authentication

                  This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory
of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of
authentication on the other side of this Security.

16. Abbreviations

                  Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a
Securityholder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT
(=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to
Minors Act).

17. CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code Numbers

                  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on
Uniform Security Identification Procedures the Company has caused CUSIP numbers
to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP
numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders. To the
extent such numbers have been issued, the Company has caused ISIN and Common
Code numbers to be similarly printed on the Securities and has similarly
instructed the Trustee. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such
numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of
redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers
placed thereon.

18. Holders' Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement.

                  Each Holder of a Security, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges
and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the
obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the
indemnification of the Company to the extent provided therein.
<PAGE>

                                                                               7

19. Governing Law.

                  THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO
APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF
THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

                  The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written
request and without charge to the Security holder a copy of the Indenture which
has in it the text of this Security in larger type. Requests may be made to:

                  Winstar Communications, Inc.
                  685 Third Avenue
                  Thirty-first Floor
                  New York, NY 10019

                  Attention: General Counsel
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to

              (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)

              (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                           agent to transfer this
Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act
for him.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:                      Your Signature:
      ---------------                      -------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this
certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act after the later of the date of original issuance
of such Securities and the last date, if any, on which such Securities were
owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms
that such Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

         (1)      |_|      to the Company; or

         (2)      |_|      pursuant to an effective registration statement under
                           the Securities Act of 1933; or

         (3)      |_|      inside the United States to a "qualified
                           institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under
                           the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its
                           own account or for the account of a qualified
                           institutional buyer to
<PAGE>

                                                                               2

                           whom notice is given that such transfer is being made
                           in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to
                           and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities
                           Act of 1933; or

         (4)      |_|      outside the United States in an offshore transaction
                           within the meaning of Regulation S under the
                           Securities Act of 1933 in compliance with Rule 904
                           under the Securities Act of 1933; or

         (5)      |_|      pursuant to the exemption from registration provided
                           by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.

         Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register
         any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any
         person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however,
         that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to
         require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such
         legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has
         reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made
         pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the
         registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the
         exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.

                                                     ------------------------
                                                              Signature

Signature Guarantee:

----------------------------                         -------------------------
Signature must be guaranteed                                 Signature

         Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership
or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar
in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

              TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

                  The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing
this Security for its own account or an account with respect to which it
exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a
"qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A under the
Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in
reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information
regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or
has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the
transferor is relying upon the undersigned's foregoing representations in order
to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

Dated:
       --------------------                  -----------------------------------
                                             NOTICE: To be executed by
                                                     an executive officer
<PAGE>

                      [TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]

              SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

                  The following increases or decreases in this Global Security
have been made:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                      <C>                     <C>                     <C>                      <C>
Date of                  Amount of decrease      Amount of increase      Principal amount         Signature of
Exchange                 in Principal            in Principal            of this Global           authorized officer
                         amount of this          amount of this          Security following       of Trustee or
                         Global Security         Global Security         such decrease or         Securities
                                                                         increase)                Custodian

</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                       OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

                  If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, check the box:

                                      ----
                                      ----

                  If you want to elect to have only part of this Security
purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture,
state the amount in principal amount: $___________

Date:                         Your Signature:
      ---------------------                   ----------------------------------
                                              (Sign exactly as your name appears
                                              on the other side of this
                                              Security.)

Signature Guarantee:
                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                  (Signature must be guaranteed)

         Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership
or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar
in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                       [FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY
                          OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITY]

                                      */**/

--------------
*/[If the Security is to be issued in global form add the Global Securities
Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and the attachment from such Exhibit 1
captioned "[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES] - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR
DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY".]

**/[If the Security is a Private Exchange Security issued in a Private Exchange
to an Initial Purchaser holding an unsold portion of its initial allotment, add
the Restricted Securities Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and replace the
Assignment Form included in this Exhibit A with the Assignment Form included in
such Exhibit 1.]
<PAGE>

No.                                                           $
    -----------------------                                     ----------------
CUSIP No.:
           ----------------
ISIN No.:
          -----------------
Common Code No.:
                 ----------

                          12-1/2% Senior Notes Due 2008

                  Winstar Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation, promises
to pay to              , or registered assigns, the principal sum of
Dollars on April 15, 2008.

                  Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15.

                  Record Dates: April 1 and October 1.

                  Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the
other side of this Security.

Dated:

                                             WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,

                                             by
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

                                             by
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
     AUTHENTICATION

UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY
  OF NEW YORK
  as Trustee, certifies
           that this is one of
           the Securities referred
           to in the Indenture.

 by
    -----------------------------
         Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>

        [FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF [EXCHANGE OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE] SECURITY

                          12-1/2% Senior Notes Due 2008

1. Interest

                  Winstar Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (such
corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to, being herein called the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the
principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. The Company
will pay interest semiannually on April 15 and October 15 of each year,
commencing October 15, 2000. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the
most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been
paid, from April 10. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months. The Company will pay interest on overdue principal at 1%
per annum in excess of the above rate and will pay interest on overdue
installments of interest at such higher rate to the extent lawful.

2. Method of Payment

                  The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except
defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Securities at
the close of business on the April 1 or October 1 next preceding the interest
payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or
before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying
Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest
in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for
payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities
represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest)
will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts
specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in
respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium and interest)
by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided,
however, that payments on a certificated Security will be made by wire transfer
to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United
States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice
to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no
later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or
such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).
<PAGE>

                                                                               2

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

                  Initially, United States Trust Company of New York, a New York
corporation (the "Trustee"), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company
may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without
notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

4. Indenture

                  The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as
of April 10, 2000 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and the Trustee. The
terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made
part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
ss.ss. 77aaa- 77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the "Act").
Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and
Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of
those terms.

                  The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the
Company. The Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date and all Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued in exchange therefor will be
treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture. The Indenture
contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its Restricted
Group Members to incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends or distributions
on, or redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; issue or sell
capital stock of Restricted Group Members; engage in transactions with
affiliates; create liens on assets; transfer or sell assets; guarantee
indebtedness; restrict dividends or other payments of Restricted Group Members;
consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets and the
assets of its Restricted Group Members; and engage in sale/leaseback
transactions. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and
qualifications.

5. Optional Redemption

                  The Company shall not be entitled to redeem the Securities at
its option prior to maturity
<PAGE>

                                                                               3

6. Put Provisions

                  Upon a Change of Control, any Holder of Securities will have
the right to cause the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Securities
of such Holder at a repurchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of
the Securities to be repurchased plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase
(subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to
receive interest due on the related interest payment date) as provided in, and
subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

                  The Securities are in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder
may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The
Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate
endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law
or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of
or exchange any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a
Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed)
or any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be
redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date.

8. Persons Deemed Owners

                  The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the
owner of it for all purposes.

9. Unclaimed Money

                  If money for the payment of principal or interest remains
unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to
the Company at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another
Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to
the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.

10. Discharge and Defeasance

                  Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time shall
be entitled to terminate some or all of its obligations under the Securities and
the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government
Obligations for the
<PAGE>

                                                                               4

payment of principal and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity,
as the case may be.

11. Amendment, Waiver

                  Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i)
the Indenture and the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities
and (ii) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the
written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of
the Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture,
without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company and the Trustee shall be
entitled to amend the Indenture or the Securities to cure any ambiguity,
omission, defect or inconsistency, or to comply with Article 5 of the Indenture,
or to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of
certificated Securities, or to add guarantees with respect to the Securities or
to secure the Securities, or to add additional covenants or surrender rights and
powers conferred on the Company, or to comply with any request of the SEC in
connection with qualifying the Indenture under the Act, or to make any change
that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder.

12. Defaults and Remedies

                  Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (i) default for
30 days in payment of interest on the Securities; (ii) default in payment of
principal on the Securities at maturity, upon redemption pursuant to paragraph 5
of the Securities, upon acceleration or otherwise, or failure by the Company to
purchase Securities when required; (iii) failure by the Company to comply with
other agreements in the Indenture or the Securities, in certain cases subject to
notice and lapse of time; (iv) certain accelerations (including failure to pay
within any grace period after final maturity) of other Indebtedness of the
Company if the amount accelerated (or so unpaid) exceeds $25.0 million; (v)
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company and the
Significant Restricted Group Members; and (vi) certain judgments or decrees for
the payment of money in excess of $25.0 million. If an Event of Default occurs
and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and payable
immediately. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default
which will result in the Securities being due and payable immediately upon the
occurrence of such Events of Default.
<PAGE>

                                                                               5

                  Securityholders may not enforce the Indenture or the
Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to
enforce the Indenture or the Securities unless it receives indemnity or security
satisfactory to it. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any
trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Securityholders notice of any
continuing Default (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it
determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

13. Trustee Dealings with the Company

                  Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee
under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the
owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect
obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal
with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were
not Trustee.

14. No Recourse Against Others

                  A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the
Company or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the
Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in
respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a
Security, each Securityholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver
and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

15. Authentication

                  This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory
of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of
authentication on the other side of this Security.

16. Abbreviations

                  Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a
Securityholder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT
(=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to
Minors Act).
<PAGE>

                                                                               6

17. CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code Numbers

                  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on
Uniform Security Identification Procedures the Company has caused CUSIP numbers
to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP
numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders. To the
extent such numbers have been issued, the Company has caused ISIN and Common
Code numbers to be similarly printed on the Securities and has similarly
instructed the Trustee. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such
numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of
redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers
placed thereon.

18. Holders' Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement

                  Each Holder of a Security, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges
and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the
obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the
indemnification of the Company to the extent provided therein.

19. Governing Law

                  THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO
APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF
THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

                  The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written
request and without charge to the Securityholder a copy of the Indenture which
has in it the text of this Security in larger type. Requests may be made to:

                  Winstar Communications, Inc.
                  685 Third Avenue
                  Thirty-first Floor
                  New York, NY 10019

                  Attention: General Counsel
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to

              (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)

              (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                           agent to transfer this
Security on the books of the Company.  The agent may substitute another to act
for him.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:                        Your Signature:
      ---------------------                  -----------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.
<PAGE>

                       OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

                  If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, check the box:

                                      ----
                                      ----

                  If you want to elect to have only part of this Security
purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture,
state the amount in principal amount: $____________

Date:                        Your Signature:
      ---------------------                  -----------------------------------
                                             (Sign exactly as your name appears
                                             on the other side of this
                                             Security.)

Signature Guarantee:
                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                    (Signature must be guaranteed)

         Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership
or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar
in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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