TORONTO, ON., October 18, 2000 - Williams Communications Canada, Inc. and Cisco Systems Canada Co. have deployed a significant IP Telephony network at Sheridan College based on Cisco's Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data (Cisco AVVID). The next generation network is featured at Sheridan's new technology centre -- the Sheridan Centre for Animation and Emerging Technologies (SCAET).

Sheridan College, located in Oakville, Ontario, has earned a reputation for advanced work in digital animation and multimedia. The new high-speed network will support Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology and the worldwide transmission of quality multimedia content, enabling SCAET students to develop skills on the world's leading technology.

Williams Communications Canada, Inc. (formerly WilTel Communications), a systems integrator and technology partner for Sheridan, is overhauling the current campus network with the world's leading IP convergence technology supported by Cisco Systems. The converged infrastructure will integrate voice, data and multimedia traffic onto one network and provide students with global access to multimedia content.

"We've implemented an integrated solution that results in a network that is user friendly and cost effective," said Ron Dekker, president of Williams Communications Canada, Inc. "The campus-wide Voice over IP infrastructure is among the first of its kind to be deployed in a large scale environment."

Cisco's technology is being used to build the VoIP network infrastructure. Voice and data labs are equipped with Cisco routing, switching, voice and multimedia products, which will be used to educate tomorrow's workforce ensuring students graduating from Sheridan are trained to implement new world networks.

"Sheridan's students will have a competitive advantage when they complete their education at SCAET because they will have studied more than just theory," said Pierre-Paul Allard, Managing Director, Cisco Systems Canada. "They will have hands-on experience designing and configuring the most advanced networking and telecommunications equipment in the world. These are the skill sets students need in order alleviate the high tech skills shortage faced by many Canadian companies."

Williams also partnered with sister-company Williams Communications Vyvx Services to install and support a dedicated fibre point-of-presence (POP) that will transmit and receive broadcast-quality video utilizing the Williams network. Vyvx delivers integrated fibre-optic satellite, teleport multimedia and data transmission services and provides complete transmission paths for worldwide distribution of broadcast news, sports, syndicated programming, advertisements, special events and IP data.

"The Vyvx POP and IP network facilitate the transmission of broadcast-quality multimedia content in real time, with virtually any major user, enabling Sheridan's students to work in a full-service production facility," said Dekker. "Students are able to share animation and multimedia content with production studios across the world."

Williams partnered with Cisco to deploy the Cisco AVVID solution and construct the VoIP network. AVVID is the foundation of converged enterprise communication networks and encompasses converged client devices, infrastructure hardware/software, directory services, call processing, telephony/data/video applications, network and policy management, and service and support.

AVVID also includes IP/TV and IP/VC (video conferencing) providing Sheridan's students the opportunity to learn to implement end-to-end video communications over IP networks. IP/TV is used to stream high-quality video programs to PC users over enterprise networks, while IP/VC provides a reliable, easy-to-manage, cost-effective network infrastructure for video conferencing applications deployment.

"SCAET was conceived as a centre of excellence in animation, multimedia and telecommunications," said Sheldon Levy, president of Sheridan College. "The cutting edge technology, equipment and services supplied by both Williams and Cisco are an essential component in its success."

The six-year agreement provides for several additional changes at Sheridan. The Cisco Networking Academy program, which teaches students the basics of computer networking and prepares them for the first level of Cisco Certification, the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA), will be offered at SCAET.

Sheridan's current traditional voice services network will also be converted to a new, fully converged campus-wide IP environment. Williams will install and maintain related equipment for the SCAET Labs, add 3,000 data ports onto the campus network and create a wireless infrastructure to support mobile computing and connectivity for more than 8,000 laptops in the campus area.

Williams Communications Canada, the Canadian operations of Tulsa-based Williams Communications (NYSE:WCG), is a single-source provider of business communications equipment and multimedia integration services for data, voice, video and advanced applications. Its network support solutions include a portfolio of full-service products from the industry's leading manufacturers, as well as configuration, design, installation, maintenance and management services for mission-critical data, voice, video, IP and multimedia networks.