Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Today, networks are an essential part of business, education, government and home communications, and Cisco Internet Protocol-based (IP) networking solutions are the foundation of these networks.

Cisco is committed to creating networks that are: smarter, thanks to built-in intelligent network services; faster, in their ability to perform at ever-increasing speeds; and more durable, with a generational approach to an evolutionary infrastructure. Cisco delivers innovative, industry-leading products in the core areas of routing and switching, as well as advanced technologies in areas such as: IP Communications, Network Security, Wireless LAN, Storage Networking and Home Networking.

In addition to hardware and software products, Cisco provides a broad range of service offerings to its clients, including award-winning technical support and advanced services. Cisco sells its products and services - directly through its own sales force and indirectly through a network of channel partners - to large enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses, service providers and consumers.

In Canada, there are approximately 675 Cisco employees from coast-to-coast dedicated to sales, support, services, marketing and research. Established by Cisco Systems in 1990, Cisco Systems Canada Co is headquartered in Toronto with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax.

Canada is a key research and development centre for Cisco. With the acquisition of privately-held Skystone Systems Corporation in 1997, the Ottawa Development Centre (ODC) was established to focus on the development of core routing technology. The 1999 acquisition of StratumOne, a privately-owned, Ottawa-based optical networking firm, further expanded the ODC. The facility has since broadened the scope of its research to encompass multiservice switching, remote access, virtual private network (VPN) and security solutions, public carrier IP systems and software technologies.

Ottawa-based engineers have played a significant role in the development of many innovative Cisco products and solutions, including the recently launched Cisco Carrier Class Routing Systems (CRS-1). Touted as the most ambitious project in Cisco's 20 year history, CRS-1 is a new class of router that delivers four times greater speed and over 100 times greater capacity than any router currently on the market.

In 1998, Cisco Systems Canada launched the Cisco Networking Academy Program to help foster access to education and professional opportunities across Canada. The innovative program is designed to prepare graduates for networking and information technology-related careers, as well as for higher education in engineering, computer science and related fields.

The Networking Academy Program has been tremendously successful around the world. Globally, there are now more than 10,000 Academies in over 150 countries, with more than 1.5 million students currently enrolled. In Canada the program has grown to include more than 350 participating secondary schools, colleges, technical institutes and universities from coast-to-coast.

Information on Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com/ca. For ongoing news, please visit http://newsroom.cisco.com.