Trading Update

813 - 9 October 2002

                                  SPIRENT PLC                                  

                                TRADING UPDATE                                 

Spirent plc (LSE: SPT; NYSE: SPM), a leading international network technology
company, today provided an update on trading for the third quarter of 2002.

At the interim stage we had shown some resilience in our first half
performance, but still viewed the telecommunications market as being
unpredictable and showing no signs of improvement. In the third quarter
conditions in the market have remained challenging. Due to further broad
ranging cuts and deferrals in capital expenditure by our major customers, our
Communications group has experienced a decrease in demand during the third
quarter, particularly in the Service Assurance division in the month of
September. We now expect operating profit for Spirent to be significantly lower
in the second half of 2002 compared with the first half of 2002. In response to
the lower levels of trading we have initiated certain cost reduction measures
to realign the cost base in the Communications group.

After several quarters of stability, turnover in the Performance Analysis
division declined to £43 million in the third quarter of 2002 compared with £49
million in the second quarter. The decline has occurred across all areas of
this business. During the third quarter, the Service Assurance division saw a
significant reduction in the rate of order intake as service providers reduced
or deferred substantial parts of their capital spending programmes. The order
book at the end of the third quarter stood at £31 million, compared with £46
million at the end of the second quarter, and turnover declined to £25 million.
As a whole, the Communications group delivered a small loss at the operating
level in the third quarter.

Our Network Products and Systems groups were broadly in line with plan in the
third quarter with turnover of £40 million and £18 million, respectively.

During the third quarter of 2002, Spirent continued to be profitable and
generate cash.

The cost reduction actions are expected to result in annualised savings of £24
million, commencing in November 2002. Exceptional charges of some £19 million,
which include a cash cost of £5.4 million in respect of the cost reductions,
and related asset write-downs of £8 million will be taken in the second half of
2002.

As a consequence of declining market values we will be required to reassess the
balance sheet carrying value of certain of our Communications group businesses
at the year end in accordance with accounting standards. We anticipate that a
further significant goodwill impairment charge will have to be taken at that
time. The effect of such a write-down could be to reduce the distributable
reserves of the Company such that recommendation of a final dividend in respect
of the year ending 31 December 2002 would not be possible.

Commenting, Nicholas Brookes, Chief Executive of Spirent, said:

'The continued decline in spending from network equipment manufacturers and
service providers has adversely affected the prospects for our Communications
group for the remainder of 2002. The likelihood is that challenging conditions
in the telecommunications market will continue into 2003. We are taking
immediate and prudent action to reduce costs and maintain cash generation
within the business.

'The underlying growth in data traffic will eventually result in a market
recovery. We continue our emphasis on new product development to ensure that we
remain strategically well positioned to respond to our customers' evolving
needs.'

                                   - ends -                                    

Enquiries

Nicholas Brookes, Chief Executive Spirent plc            [phone]    
                                                                               
Eric Hutchinson, Finance Director                                              
                                                                               
Investor Relations                                                             
                                                                               
Catherine Nash                    Spirent plc            [phone]    
                                                                               
Media                                                                          
                                                                               
Jon Coles/Rupert Young            Brunswick (London)     [phone]   
                                                                               
Lauren Teggelaar                  Brunswick (New York)   [phone]       

About Spirent

Spirent plc is an international network technology company providing
state-of-the-art systems and solutions for a broad range of customers
worldwide. Our Communications group is a worldwide provider of integrated
performance analysis and service assurance systems for next-generation network
technologies. Spirent's solutions accelerate the development and deployment of
network equipment and services by emulating real-world conditions and assuring
end-to-end performance of large-scale networks. Our Network Products group
provides innovative solutions for fastening, identifying, insulating,
organising, routing and connectivity that add value to electrical and
communication networks in a wide range of applications. Our Systems group
offers integrated product solutions for the aerospace and power controls
markets. Further information about Spirent plc can be found at www.spirent.com

Spirent plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT) and on the New
York Stock Exchange (ticker: SPM; CUSIP number: 84856M209) with one American
Depositary Receipt representing four Ordinary shares.

Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks of Spirent plc. All other
trademarks or registered trademarks are held by their respective companies. All
rights reserved.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements (as that term is
defined in the United States Private Securities Legislation Reform Act 1995)
that are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about
future events. You can identify these statements by their use of words such as
'will,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'project,' 'intend,' 'plan,'
'should,' 'may,' 'assume' and other similar words. You should not place undue
reliance on our forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future
performance and are subject to factors that could cause our actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. Such
factors include: the effects of competition on our business; our ability to
develop and commercialise new products and services and realise product
synergies; our ability to focus on growth areas in the relevant markets; risks
relating to the acquisition or sale of businesses and our subsequent ability to
integrate businesses; changes in the business, financial condition or prospects
of one or more of our major customers; our reliance on third party
manufacturers and suppliers; our exposure to liabilities for product defects;
our reliance on proprietary technology; our ability to attract and retain
qualified personnel; risks of doing business internationally; changes in market
conditions in the markets in which we participate or in general economic
conditions; and other risks described from time to time in Spirent plc's
Securities and Exchange Commission periodic reports and filings. We undertake
no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.