ENGLEWOOD, Colo.-- June 30, 1998 -- ICG Netcom, a leading integratedcommunications provider (ICP), today announced it will use equipment manufactured by Cisco Systems, Inc., to expand its nationwide network to provide a wide range of new services, including long distance telephoneservice over the Internet.
The enhanced ICG Netcom network will support voice over Internet Protocol (IP), giving business and residential customers access to a range of new IP-based services, including IP telephony and IP facsimile.
ICG Netcom will begin offering service in August, with full expansion to include 166 cities by the end of the year. Long distance rates for ICG Netcom's voice over IP service will be 5.9 cents per minute for calls originating and terminating on the company's IP network.
"ICG Netcom's IP telephony service will be available to 90 percent of U.S. long distance customers and will be offered in nearly double the number of cities any other competitor serves," said J. Shelby Bryan, president and CEO of ICG. "We chose Cisco to help us build our network to handle this aggressive roll out because of the company's proven expertise and the reliability of its equipment. This arrangement will make ICG Netcom's voice over IP services not only one of the most cost-effective long distance solutions, but also one of thehighest quality services available today."
"We're very pleased to work with ICG Netcom on this ground-breaking roll out of Internet telephony," said Kevin Kennedy, vice president and general manager of the Network-to-User Business Unit at Cisco Systems. "ICG Netcom's customers will benefit from its superior service and value, which, combined with Cisco'spowerful end-to-end network solutions, will create a higher standard of telecommunications services."
ICG Netcom's Agreement with Cisco
Under the terms of the agreement with Cisco, ICG Netcom will invest several million dollars in new Cisco equipment, including more than 10,000 Cisco AS5300 universal access server ports, the voice/fax feature card for the Cisco AS5300, additional Cisco 7500 series routers and Cisco's BPX. 8600 carrier classATM switches. These products supplement ICG Netcom's existing Cisco 7500 series routers. The combined network deployment will provide services to enhance the company's Frame Relay, point-to-point protocol (PPP) and IP connectivity services and enable Internet telephony.About ICG Netcom
ICG Netcom is the brand name for products and services from ICG Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ICGX - news) and ICG's subsidiary, NETCOM On-Line Communication Services, Inc. The combined entity is a leading integrated communications provider (ICP) offering high-quality telecommunications services.Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., ICG has extensive switched fiber-optic networks and offers local, long distance and enhanced telephony and data services in California, Colorado, the Ohio Valley and parts of thesoutheastern United States. The company provides Internet communication solutions, connectivity and Web site hosting to individuals and to small- and medium-sized businesses through its subsidiary, NETCOM On-Line Communication Services, Inc. ICG also is a leading designer and installer of copper, fiber and wireless infrastructure for buildings and campuses.Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.For more information visit Cisco PR Contacts
Cisco, Cisco IOS, BPX, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other trademarks in this document are the property of their respective owners.
