February 26, 1998- CLEAR's nationwide data network has been awarded Cisco Powered Network status.

CLEAR is the first organization in New Zealand to meet Cisco's network quality standard, which assures end-to-end security and industry leading performance.

Cisco is the world's leading supplier of enterprise network technology. Network providers, Internet service providers and telecommunications companies throughout the world are now seeking Cisco Powered Network accreditation.

The Cisco Powered Network or CPN status applies to both the CLEAR Frame Relay and CLEAR ATM services in the CLEAR Data Services portfolio. In order to qualify, CLEAR had to undergo a technical evaluation and an evaluation of overall quality and service.

Business Manager for CLEAR Data Services, Greg Ball, says those who have experienced CLEAR's data services are enthusiastic about the service but a common perception in the rest of the market is that CLEAR's data service is new and unproven.

Mr. Ball says the seal of approval from one of the world's leading enterprise networking giants with 70% of the market should convince IT managers that, at the very least, CLEAR's service is world class. But it goes further than that. He says matching top quality service with the world's most trusted networking hardware means CLEAR has a solid claim on being the best data network service in the country.

"IT managers are paid to be risk averse and switching providers, or creating a new data network with a new supplier, may appear to be courting the very risks they want to avoid," he says. "The Cisco Powered Network quality program provides exactly the kind of assurance they need because it demonstrates the integrity of the system. Not only that, it gives them access to all the technical and performance advantages that made Cisco the world's most preferred data switching platform in the first place.

"If IT managers want genuine security, performance and reliability for their mission critical data then CLEAR Data Service is their best option."

Mr. Ball also says CLEAR's data services were not limited to large organizations. While data services frequently meant customers had to buy routers and other equipment, CLEAR could also provide simple pricing options with nil capital cost for smaller businesses.

"It doesn't matter what size business you are in, just tell us what you want to do and we can make it happen in the most cost effective way for your business."

Because CLEAR's network is and will remain fully compliant with the standards of the Frame Relay and ATM Forum, customers with networking equipment other than Cisco's can also benefit from the advantages of CLEAR's data network. They will benefit from the industry leading switching technology, superior performance, reliability and customer service available at CLEAR.

Mr. Ball said one of the factors that enabled CLEAR to achieve CPN status was the exclusive use of Cisco technology in its frame relay and ATM platform, which ensured seamless end to end connectivity across the country - and overseas - through CLEAR's membership of the Concert network.

He said although CLEAR was sometimes seen as a newcomer to data networking, CLEAR launched the country's first true ATM network, two years ago in February 1996.

"We actually have more experience with this technology than anyone in the country," said Mr. Ball. CLEAR has had a commercial ATM service up and running while competitors were still claiming ATM was unproven'. CLEAR's ATM provides the backbone for its own award-winning ISP, CLEAR Net, which set new standards for performance and reliability.

"This is a stable and mature technology with many proven advantages for wide area networking," he said. "Auckland's recent blackouts show the importance of system integrity. Today's announcement demonstrates to IT managers that there is a service provider with a high quality, modern and reliable network they can trust with their mission critical data.

"We're offering the combined resources of two market leaders with extensive data network experience. Together, we can provide a complete internetworking solution from initial design and installation, through to final testing, maintenance and support."

Cisco Systems New Zealand Account Director Tim Hemingway says CLEAR is a strong and credible player in the data services market and he was delighted to welcome it as the first New Zealand company in the Cisco Powered Network program.

"We're very pleased to be working with CLEAR on this program because it has demonstrated exactly the kind of qualities the CPN accreditation stands for. The complete end-to-end networking opportunities offered by this level of integration mean that CLEARs customers can be assured of a high level of network performance and enhanced interoperability, as well as a jump on leading edge services in the future.

"We are confident this CPN program will ensure CLEAR retains its market leading technical and service edge in data networking in New Zealand."

Cisco Systems

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