Industry-leading OC-48c backbone to run IP over DWDM using state-of-the-art Cisco routers
- Frontier Corporation Web Site
- More information on the Cisco 12000 Series Routers
- More information on the Cisco 7500 Series Routers
Sunnyvale, Calif., -- August 11, 1998 -- Frontier GlobalCenter, the data and Internet arm of Frontier Corporation (NYSE: FRO), announced today the selection of Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) as the strategic supplier of routing hardware to support its plan to build the first coast-to-coast OC-48c Internet Protocol (IP) backbone.
The $20 million agreement enables Frontier to provide customers with a nationwide IP network expected to be the fastest and most efficient in the communications industry. Built as a segment within the Frontier Optronics Network(SM), the OC-48c IP backbone will transport data at 2.4 gigabits per second (Gbps) on a single dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) channel. In its present configuration, Frontier's OC-48c IP backbone can scale to over 38.4 Gbps on a single strand of fiber. Conventional IP networks transport data at speeds ranging from OC-3 (155 megabits per second) to OC-12 (622 Mbps).
"Selecting Cisco as a partner in developing our backbone was not a difficult choice," said Doug Hickey, president of Frontier GlobalCenter. "Cisco shares our technology vision and has the technical expertise to enhance the development of the Frontier Optronics Network. The fact that it is the market leader is testimony to the quality design of its equipment."
"We're very excited about Frontier's commitment to deploying IP directly across the optical layer using Cisco 12000 series Gigabit Switch Routers," said Graeme Fraser, vice president and general manager of Cisco's Optical Internetworking Business Unit. "Using the optical internetworking architecture to deliver high-bandwidth data service in the most cost-effective and efficient manner positions Frontier as a leader in the new world of communications."
Frontier will deploy Cisco 12000 series Gigabit Switch Routers throughout the backbone and Cisco 7500 series routers out to the edge for customer aggregation. The majority of these routers are expected to be deployed along the high-speed backbone by fourth quarter 1998. The OC-48c IP backbone will be completed in the first quarter of 1999.
"In April 1997, we announced with Cisco an early deployment of packet over SONET," said Jonathan Heiliger, chief technology officer of Frontier GlobalCenter. "Since that time, an increase in bandwidth consumption guided us to scale our network capacity by 2000 percent. Not only did we grow from OC-3 to OC-48c, we're now able to run IP directly over DWDM, allowing us to take full advantage of backbone capacity."
The Cisco routers enable Frontier to run IP directly over a DWDM platform, thus bypassing unnecessary network layers that slow traffic on conventional networks. By running IP, the most robust communications protocol, directly over DWDM, Frontier takes full advantage of OC-48c capacity. This architecture provides Frontier customers a faster and more effective network to support their current and future wide-area applications.
Immediately upon deployment, the OC-48c IP network layer will become part of the Frontier GlobalCenter digital distribution architecture. This industry-leading data distribution backbone is used by thousands of Web sites, including more than 200 of the most popular World Wide Web destinations. The Frontier GlobalCenter digital distribution architecture currently handles over 500 million Internet hits a day and delivers more than 4.5 billion page views per month.
Connecting more than 120 metropolitan areas around the nation, the Frontier Optronics Network uses the most advanced fiber optics with DWDM. This future-proof design creates "liquid bandwidth," scalable architecture giving the network virtually unlimited capacity. Upon completion, the entire Optronics network will exceed a capacity of 460 Gbps. Such capacity can service any or multiple applications customers may deploy to support their business goals, now and well into the future.
Because of its commitment to reliable, secure and high-performance Internet services, Frontier has been designated a Cisco Powered Network. The relationship highlights Frontier's focus on using intelligent broadband IP networking to deliver enhanced connectivity and network-based applications to its customers.
"Cisco's goal is to be the industry's preferred supplier of advanced telecommunications infrastructure by working closely with leading service providers, like Frontier, to offer new world services to customers," said Larry Lang, senior vice president of marketing for Cisco's service provider line of business. "Frontier's relationship with Cisco will enable it to deploy the most advanced solutions in the market and to deliver high-value services to customers ahead of the competition."
With extensive redundancy and carrier-compliant equipment standards, the Cisco 12000 series is specifically designed to provide the high availability required by high-speed service provider backbones. The Cisco 7500 series of routers is Cisco's premier platform for dedicated Internet access and aggregation. Both the Cisco 7500 series and Cisco 12000 series operate scalable and service-rich Cisco IOS. software, providing high-performance queuing and traffic engineering services to support IP quality of service (QoS) offerings.
About Frontier
Rochester, New York-based Frontier Corporation is a leading provider of integrated communications services to business and residential customers. The Frontier Optronics Network(SM) connects more than 120 metropolitan areas around the nation. This IP network employs advanced fiber optics and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) to create liquid bandwidth, or virtually unlimited and highly scalable network capacity. Frontier GlobalCenter, a premier global digital distribution company, enables businesses to establish and manage the Internet as a strategic channel, offering a complete range of data and Internet services including dial-up access, dedicated connectivity and high-end content distribution. The company counts the biggest brand names in the Internet among its customers, including Yahoo!, Motley Fool, USA TODAY, Electronic Arts, Talk City and more.Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. athttp://www.cisco.com.For more information visit Cisco PR Contacts
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