SAN JOSE, Calif.- November 17, 1997 - MEANS Telcom, Inc. announced today that it will deployCisco AS5200 and AS5300 universal access servers and the Cisco AccessPath carrier-classintegrated dial access system to provide reliable, high-speed dialup access to its Internet anddata services network.
MEANS Telcom represents 65 independent telephone companies, providing them with long distance,videoconferencing, Internet, private line and Frame Relay data services via a 1,725-milefiber-optic communications network. MEANS Telcom also recently acquired the Minnesota RegionalNetwork (MRNet), Minnesota's oldest and largest Internet service provider (ISP). The twocompanies' combined resources create the largest ISP in the region. Customers include mostMinnesota-based Fortune 500 companies, all of the state's higher education institutions, 80percent of the K-12 schools, public libraries, state and county governments, more than 70regional ISPs and hundreds of other organizations.
MEANS Telcom Lays the Groundwork for a High-Speed Future
"The Cisco AS5200 and AS5300 servers enable us to meet traditional analog dial access needswhile supporting the growing demand for 56-kbps modem and high-speed digital access, such asISDN," said Walker Angell, product manager for data services at MEANS Telcom. "The modularuniversal access servers position us well for the future as we scale our Internetinfrastructure to support national backbone connections and cell-based ATM switching. Ourfuture plans include support for voice, video and data integration over a single,high-performance backbone."
The Cisco AS5200 universal access server delivers hybrid asynchronous serial and ISDN lineservice, allowing MEANS Telcom to offer full digital and analog dialup connections using thesame connection dial-in number for 33.6 kbps, 56 kbps and ISDN users. The AS5200 is popularwith service providers because it integrates the functions of standalone channel service units(CSUs), channel banks, modems, communication servers, switches and routers into a singlechassis.
The Cisco AS5300 supports near line-speed performance for up to 120 concurrent analog modemcalls and ISDN B channels over a single dial-in telephone number. The Cisco AccessPath-TS3,deployed with AS5300 access servers, scales to 2,520 ports over a single dial-in telephonenumber. Consolidated functionality of CSUs, terminal servers, managed modems and routing in asingle platform greatly simplifies administration, troubleshooting and management.
"Cisco's portfolio of dial access platforms provides MEANS Telcom with a high-performance,reliable dial access solution," said Kevin Kennedy, vice president and general manager of theNetwork-to-User Business Unit at Cisco Systems. "Advanced networking and management featuresalso ensure that MEANS can scale its dial-in access solutions to meet the growing demand forInternet access."
Cisco IOS Software Provides Springboard for Advanced Features and Scalability
"We selected the Cisco universal access servers largely because of the Cisco IOS softwareplatform," said Angell. "Cisco IOS software supports advanced features such as dataencryption, Multilink PPP and data compression while maintaining per-user data throughput." Cisco IOS software will allow MEANS Telcom to optimize bandwidth utilization using protocolssuch as Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) and Weighted Fair Queuing (WFQ), maximizingutilization of existing circuit infrastructure. A common Cisco IOS software platform alsosimplifies integration and management of the universal access servers with a wide range ofexisting Cisco routers. The combined resources of MEANS Telcom and MRNet rely on a number ofCisco products to support its backbone network, including the Cisco 7500, 4700, 3600 and 2500routers and Catalyst. 5000 switches. In addition, MEANS Telcom provides management servicesfor more than 400 Cisco routers that reside in Minnesota K-12 schools and provide Internetconnection.
MEANS Telcom will also deploy Cisco's AccessPath carrier-class access system. AccessPathintegrates access servers, backbone routers, a switching engine, a system controller andmanagement software, giving MEANS an easy-to-manage solution for multiple points of presence(POPs) that accommodate ISDN Primary Rate Interface (PRI) T1/E1 lines or channelized T1 lines. As dial-in demands increase, the AccessPath system can scale capacity quickly and easily viathe system's stacking capability.
"With the stacking feature, service providers can quickly increase port density and scale theirdial access capabilities without enlarging the system's overall footprint," said Kennedy. "Byadding dial shelves within the AccessPath system, stacking enables a provider to immediatelymeet increased demand without taking up additional, valuable space. With Cisco, MEANS Telcomis well-positioned to realize its objectives in providing scalable, high-performance servicefor all of its customers."
Virtual Private Dial Networks Ahead
Looking ahead, MEANS Telcom will begin evaluating Cisco solutions for dialup virtual privatenetwork (VPN) services. Dialup VPN services would enable MEANS Telcom's business and educationcustomers to securely outsource their dial pools, such as those used in customer service,technical support and 24-hour ordering applications. Outsourced VPN services allow businessesto reduce costs by eliminating the need for them to build, manage and upgrade their own dialpools.
About MEANS Telcom
MEANS Telcom (www.means.net) is a privately held company formed to provide state-of-the-arttelecommunications services. Owned by 63 independent telephone companies in Minnesota thatserve more than 60,000 customers in the upper Midwest, MEANS Telcom is devoted to deploying thelatest voice, video and data technologies, including long distance service, statewide Internetaccess, worldwide interactive videoconferencing and advanced data communications through its100 percent digital fiber-optic infrastructure.
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is theworldwide leader in networking for the Internet. athttp://www.cisco.com.
Cisco IOS is a trademark, and Cisco, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo areregistered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. All othertrademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
