AOL Transit Data Network Earns Cisco Powered Network Designation

SAN JOSE, Calif., December 6, 2000 - Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, announced today that America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL), the world's leading interactive services company, has been designated a Cisco Powered Network provider for its AOL Transit Data Network (ATDN) following the expansion of ATDN using Cisco 12000 series Internet routers.

Cisco 12000 series Internet routers are a key component in assisting AOL with the migration of ATDN to OC-192 transmission speeds. ATDN connects to all AOL Global Networks and through which virtually all of America Online's Internet traffic passes. The ATDN directly connects AOL to more than 90 of the premier Internet traffic and content sources across the globe, with more than 50Gbps of ingress capacity. ATDN has exceptional connectivity and capacity, which enables an outstanding member experience for AOL's US and international members as well as CompuServe members and provides AOL's Internet brands, including Netcenter, AOL.COM, and Spinner, with high quality connectivity.

"Our top priority is to provide our users with the best possible online experience, and we're pleased to work with Cisco to help us meet that goal," said Joe Barrett, vice president of Internet operations for America Online. "We are confident in Cisco's leadership and expertise in Internet routing, which will help us strengthen our state-of-the-art network and support our global network expansion."

Cisco's premier Internet routing technology helps America Online to scale its network capabilities seamlessly. The Cisco 12000 series Internet Routers offer the leading solution currently in the industry for delivering high scalability, performance and a breadth of IP services to address America Online's future infrastructure growth.

"America Online's Cisco Powered Network status marks a further testament to the close and long-standing relationship between our two companies," said Kevin J. Kennedy, senior vice president of Cisco Systems' service provider line of business. "Because both America Online and Cisco are committed to providing the best possible online experience to their respective customers, we will continue to work with AOL to help them build New World networks offering reliable, feature-rich services that will become an increasing part of users' everyday lives."

AOL Transit Data Network will first scale to OC-48 transmission speeds and then to OC-192 over the next year. As the transit point for AOL's worldwide data centers and global networks, ATDN enables global caching efficiency by pushing Internet content closer and faster to consumers.