MILAN, Jan. 12, 2000 - Nextra S.p.A. has announced that it is to offer dial and dedicated Internet access to business customers in Italy. A significant factor in the new Internet Service Provider's (ISP) offering is its Cisco Powered Network status, which guarantees that the network deploys Cisco Systems' technology end-to-end. With a Cisco Powered Network, Nextra will be able to provide its customers with a diverse range of reliable, secure and high performance Internet services - delivering enhanced connectivity and network-based applications via intelligent broadband IP networking.

"Cisco shares our vision that the IP network is the foundation for delivering intelligent business solutions, providing our customers with superior services and strategic competitive advantages," said Stein C.Tommer, Managing Director, Nextra. "By working with a leader such as Cisco, we can bring advanced, differentiated networking solutions to market quickly."

"Cisco's high-performance, reliable networking solutions enable service providers to offer consistent services," said Paul Mountford, vice president of Cisco's Service Provider Line of Business. "The CPN partnership with Cisco will reassure Nextra customers that their service provider delivers a high level of network interoperability and performance, as well as new, advanced, and differentiated services."

Nextra's participation in the program - including use of the Cisco Powered Network logo to brand its services and marketing support materials - confirms the company's ability to provide innovative services and to implement industry-leading technology solutions. Nextra will deploy Cisco's 7500, 7200 and 5300 routers, the Catalyst 5000 switch for the backbone and 2600, 1600 and 800 series routers at the customer sites.