BOSTON, Mass. -- June 23 , 1999 -- HarvardNet, a data Competitive LocalExchange Carrier (CLEC) and Internet company headquartered in Boston, announced today that it is deploying BPX. 8650 wide-area switches from Cisco Systems, Inc. as its core IP+ATM network infrastructure. HarvardNet provides secure, high-speed data services over this network, including Internet connectivity, high-speed DSL access, telecommuter access, IP business applications, Web hosting, e-commerce, virtual private network (VPN), and leased-line solutions.
"We've designed our infrastructure, access, hosting products, and servicesbased on the belief that our customers deserve the best solution available,"said Mark Washburn, HarvardNet's president and CEO. "The fact that the BPX 8650 is a next-generation ATM switch gives us tremendous confidence that we'rebuilding a high-quality data network for our customers."
HarvardNet's BPX 8650 switches will enable high-speed transport with full QoSfor existing DSL access, high-speed Internet, and VPN services. The Cisco BPX8650 is the industry's first ATM switch to incorporate a carrier-classimplementation of Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), an emerging InternetEngineering Task Force standard. MPLS provides unmatched scalability andenables end-to-end QoS and support for IP business applications, VPNs, andvoice over IP.
"The Cisco BPX 8650 is appropriate for integration of Layer 2 and Layer 3 datatraffic," said Chip Ach, HarvardNet's chief technical officer. "That convergence facilitates our deployment of services and supports our dual role as a data CLEC and ISP."
"HarvardNet and Cisco share a vision for leadership, quality, and innovationfor our customers, " said Kevin Kennedy, senior vice president of the ServiceProvider Line of Business at Cisco Systems. "Cisco's New World IP+ATM network will provide CLECs like HarvardNet with a competitive edge and a solidfoundation for long-term, profitable customer relationships."
About HarvardNet
HarvardNet, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, provides Internetconnectivity and e-business solutions including high-speed Digital SubscriberLine (DSL) Internet access for small and medium sized businesses, leased lineInternet connectivity for large and Internet-dependent businesses, and Webhosting and e-commerce solutions. The company also provides secure, high-speed DSL Internet access service to the telecommuter, work-at-home, and remote workers of large enterprises with its Virtual Private Network (VPN) service. HarvardNet is an authorized Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) in Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, enabling the company to provide its own DSL services directly over existing local telephone lines. For more information on HarvardNet, visit the company's Web site at http://www.HarvardNet.comCisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is theworldwide leader in networking for the Internet.Cisco, 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 mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
