NEW YORK, N.Y. and SAN JOSE, Calif., May 2, 2001 - Global Crossing Ltd., which is building and offering services over the world's most extensive, global IP-based fiber optic network, today announced it will deploy Cisco's new 12410 and 12416 Internet routers on its IP backbone to provide critical OC-192 speeds. Global Crossing will be the first carrier to deploy OC-192 service across its entire global IP backbone.

Global Crossing is experiencing increased demand for its bandwidth service. These new Cisco platforms will allow Global Crossing to scale its network to core optical speeds and to provide the bandwidth necessary for next-generation IP services such as MPLS-based VPNs, IP QoS, and Voice over IP (VoIP). The ability toscale easily to OC-192 also positions Global Crossing to continue to enhance and advance its network, including the eventual deployment of OC-768 speeds.

"We chose Cisco to help us build our global network because their routers deliver performance, scalability and investment protection," explained Wally Dawson, Global Crossing's executive vice president of Global Network. "These new routers provide us with a common platform to quickly deploy services without disruption."

The flagship Cisco 12000 series Internet routers are based on a unique distributed architecture that delivers the IP+Optical networking foundation and service building blocks to accelerate the evolution of the Internet. The Cisco 12400 family delivers the highest levels of scalability and performance available today. They are also the only systems capable of guaranteeing high priority packet delivery, which iscritical to meet customers' increasing need for delivery of premium IP services. This innovative combination of features and capabilities make the Cisco 12400 family the premier platform for building true 10Gbps OC-192/STM-64 IP+Optical infrastructures.

"We are pleased to have been selected by Global Crossing to deploy OC-192 service across its entire global IP backbone," said Roland Acra, vice president and general manager, Public Carrier IP Group at Cisco. "Global Crossing will be well positioned to offer customers significant opportunities for high-end value-added services, once again delivering on its commitment to provide customers with leading-edge technology."