NEW DELHI, India -- 27 August 2001 -- Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, and Satyam Infoway (NASDAQ: SIFY), India's premier Internet and eCommerce services company, today announced a tie-up to offer Cisco's MPLS-based VPN solutions that are completely secure and scalable. This represents next generation Virtual Private Network (VPN) services that Sify will make available to their enterprise customers.
Mr Rahul Swarup, President, Enterprise Solutions, SIFY, said: "Business customers are today increasingly looking at VPNs for reliable enterprise wide networks, and to reduce total cost of ownership associated with private leased lines and frame relay services. MPLS-based VPNs have been found to be precisely such a solution. We are delighted to partner with Cisco to deliver this state-of-the-art end-to-end solution."
Mr Rustom Irani, Chief Technology Officer, SIFY, said: "SIFY will now be able to offer better Quality of Service (QoS) on VPNs from all its 52 plus "points of presence" in the country, matching the capabilities of an ATM/Frame network. This puts us on par with global players in the West with regard to technology, cost efficiencies, reliability, security and scalability of VPN solutions for our enterprise customers."
Some of the significant value-added advantages that SIFY can now offer customers through MPLS-based VPNs are Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to assure the QoS requested for by their customers. In addition, SIFY can now offer their customers fully secure and reliable point-to-point connectivity between separate enterprise sites. Moreover, the MPLS-based services will be much easier to manage and provision by a Service Provider.
MPLS VPN technology allows the classification and prioritization of applications that are mission critical according to each customer requirement. Additionally, the end customers do not need to change their existing IP addresses.
Mr Jangoo Dalal, VP Channels and Business Development, Cisco Systems India said: "Cisco is the number one provider of integrated VPN Management solutions across the world. We have sustained this leadership by understanding global business needs, and through consistent investments in R&D. As per IDC, for enterprise networks across the world that encompass between 5 to 15 sites, VPN's can be deployed for a fraction of the cost of a private network. Cisco's MPLS-based VPN solutions are able to combine such cost advantages with comprehensive security, scalability and assured QoS. This makes it a very compelling value-proposition for SIFY to offer to any enterprise customer across India. This also places SIFY on par with other large global ISPs, who have deployed MPLS in the core."
An additional feature of MPLS-based VPNs are that the Service Provider core structure is not visible unlike Frame Relay and ATM networks – reducing chances of hacking. They also allow for network-based VPN services that are completely transparent to any application, allowing for complete security on any application the end-consumer might be working on. Further, the MPLS-based VPN solution has a mechanism in place to limit the impact of DoS attacks to the VPN where they originate.
To provide the service, SIFY has implemented a solution based on the industry's leading routers from Cisco - Cisco 7500, Cisco 7200 and Cisco 3600. The Cisco IOS software of the routers have been upgraded to support MPLS feature, with hardware upgrades on existing core/backbone routers.
About Satyam Infoway
Satyam Infoway Limited is the largest integrated Internet and eCommerce services company in India, offering end-to-end solutions with a comprehensive range of products delivered over a common Internet backbone infrastructure. A significant part of the company's revenue is derived from corporate services (B2B) which include corporate connectivity, network and communications solutions and integrated e-Solutions, such as consulting, execution, management and hosting. As of June 30, 2001, over 650 corporate customers use SIFY's B2B products and services. UUNet Technologies, Sterling Commerce, Open Market and Broad Vision are among SIFY's strategic partners for world class corporate services. SIFY's consumer Internet access business had, as of June 30, 2001, over 5,00,000 subscribers accessing its service through 52 points of presence, representing an estimated 90% of the installed PC base in India. The customer care processes of the Company's retail ISP business are accredited ISO 9001. Satyam Infoway's consumer portal, www.sify.com is one of the leading portals in India. For more information about Satyam Infoway, visit www.sifycorp.com.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at www.cisco.com.
# # #
Cisco, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
