MADISON, WI -- May 17, 1999 -- TDS TELECOM and Cisco Systems, Inc. have announced that they are joining forces to offer enhanced TDSNET Internet service to business customers and consumers in rural and suburban communities across America. The TDSNET Internet access service was also certified for inclusion in the Cisco Powered Network program.
With a Cisco Powered Network, TDSNET will provide an industry-leading networkservice that is fast, reliable and secure. This joint relationship alsohighlights TDS TELECOM and Cisco's focus on responsive network-basedapplications based on Internet technology, regardless of where the individualsor business may be located. Equipment installation will begin this summer andis expected to be completed next year.
"Cisco shares our vision that the network is the foundation for deliveringintelligent and customer centric business solutions to our customers for theiruse especially in rural and suburban America," said Collette Sorgel, vicepresident of marketing for TDS TELECOM's Retail Markets Group. "By working with a market leader such as Cisco, we have been able to quickly and economically bring our customer-friendly and secure networking solutions to our customers and the marketplace."
Since 1995, TDSNET has served rural Internet customers and expects to have more than 50,000 customers by the end of this year by expanding to 18 additional markets.
"The TDSNET customers in rural and suburban America will now have better access to a higher level of network interoperability and performance, as well asadvanced New World services such as integrated high-speed data, Internetaccess, voice and video," said Larry Lang, Cisco's vice president of serviceprovider marketing. "With a certified Cisco Powered Network service, TDSNETcustomers can be confident they are receiving an industry-leading service builton Cisco's high-performance, reliable and secure solutions."
TDSNET will be offering Internet dial and dedicated access based on the CiscoAS5300 Universal Access Server and Cisco 3600 Modular Access Router.
The AS5300 is a member of Cisco's award-winning AS5x00 family of universalaccess servers. The Cisco AS5300 is intended for telecommunications carriersand other service providers, as well as large enterprises that requireconsistent high-density connectivity for subscribers and telecommutersconnecting to the Internet and corporate intranets. Utilizing thedifferentiated services delivered through Cisco IOS. software, TDSNET'scustomers are offered best-of-breed scalability and investment protection viathe broadest support of worldwide protocols such as V.90, Channelized T1 (RBS), and Signalling System 7 (SS7).
The Cisco 3600 series routers are modular access routers whose local areanetwork (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) connections can be configured bymeans of interchangeable modules and WAN interface cards. The modular design of the routers provides flexibility, allowing TDS TELECOM to configure the routers according to customer requirements.
TDS TELECOM's participation in the Cisco Powered Network program demonstrates its ability to provide industry-leading technology solutions and services that are based predominantly on Cisco solutions. A benefit of the program for TDS TELECOM is participation in joint marketing, technology-sharing and selling activities with Cisco. TDS TELECOM, along with Cisco, is helping to create a New World communications infrastructure comprised of integrated services such as high-speed data, Internet access, voice and video. This will enable the individual and business communities to have better access to information technology in the New World.
About TDS TELECOM
TDS TELECOM is a growing, national company that currently brings high quality,locally based telecommunications services to 900 rural and suburban communities across the U.S. Headquartered in Madison, Wis., the company maintains 555,000, access lines through which it can service more than one million potential customers.TDS TELECOM is part of the Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) family oftelecommunications companies, which includes United States Cellular Corp. andAerial Communications, Inc. Based in Chicago, TDS is publicly traded under thesymbol "TDS" on the American Stock Exchange.
