STOCKHOLM, Sweden - 8th March, 2001- Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, and Telia, Scandinavia's leading provider of communications services, today announced a strategic relationship to deliver innovative IP based services to the European wholesale market. Utilising the combination of Cisco's leadership in IP networking solutions and Telia's International Carrier extensive worldwide network, the companies will work together to drive forward the development and deployment of IP services such as wholesale IP VPNs, virtual ISP service, wholesale streaming, Content Distributed Network and wholesale dial services.
This relationship will enable the two companies to develop market-leading end-to-end IP-based wholesale services for New Service Providers (NSPs). These services are expected to provide an NSP with a reduced time to market enabling it to offer the services to its customers expediently and at a lower cost than had it deployed the services itself. Cisco and Telia International Carrier will also work together to ensure the services reach the standard of Cisco Powered Network (CPN) certification, enabling the NSP to offer this additional proof to its customers of its commitment to offering them the most advanced and innovative IP services.
Paul Mountford, Vice President, Service Providers, Cisco Systems EMEA comments: "The market for IP-based services has exploded as Service Providers have realised the need to provide their customers with value added services often based around the high speed delivery of high bandwidth media such as video streaming, high resolution images and animation for example. However, in a market as fast moving as this, the majority of NSPs do not have the time to deploy these services themselves. Cisco recognised that a complete wholesale offering would be the ideal solution for the NSPs, but was lacking in the marketplace. The strategic relationship with Telia International Carrier is extremely exciting, as it enables both companies to make the most of the other's expertise to provide this unique offering to the European market."
As a result of this alliance, Cisco will become Telia's equipment supplier of choice for all new IP services. Telia International Carrier and Cisco will form joint teams to develop solutions consistent with customer requirements. Both companies will be actively involved in marketing these solutions to potential wholesale customers.
Lars Rydin, C.E.O. Telia International Carrier, comments: "Telia is delighted to be working closely with Cisco, which is recognised throughout the industry for innovative end-to-end networking solutions. We look forward to working together to develop leading edge solutions for our growing base of wholesale customers."
