FRANKFURT, Germany and SAN JOSE, Calif., November 13, 2001 - access:Seven Communications GmbH, a solution provider of broadband telecommunication services, today announced that it has chosen equipment manufactured by Cisco Systems to provide significant expansion to their network with their IP+ATM Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) solution. This solution enables access:Seven to connect with customers throughout the world, to build mutually beneficial partnerships with other carriers and at the same time to maintain complete control over its network offerings and quality of service (QoS).
The Cisco ATM MPLS solution, based on the Cisco BPX 8650 and the MGX 8220 switches, is the first MPLS IP Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) over ATM solution in Germany. Cisco's MPLS-based VPN technology enables access:Seven to provide access-independent, any-to-any connectivity IP VPNs. Cisco's solution also enables access:Seven to offer customers a platform for new data services such as voice-over-IP (VoIP) and video on demand (VOD), based on an ATM core. MPLS over the ATM backbone lets access:Seven centrally manage and provision their network, eliminating the high cost and time required for manually provisioning circuit-switched services.
"We had a successful Cisco router network that enabled us to be a leading solution provider," said Ralf Koehler, chief executive officer of access:Seven. "However, we needed a powerful ATM MPLS backbone solution that would allow us to monitor both QoS and flexible IP capabilities to deliver new, voice and data services to our customers in addition to our current offerings. This solution also gives the security and scalability that we demand. Only Cisco could deliver MPLS capabilities on an ATM backbone immediately, enabling access.Seven to begin offering differentiated IP services and QoS options to its customers as soon as possible."
This solution is ideal for access:Seven customers who have more than one site and have high communication demands between the different sites. Many access:Seven customers are companies with domestic and foreign branches and subsidiaries. These companies rely on access:Seven to ensure secure, real-time data exchange and for Internet connectivity to enable information searches, e-mail services and customer communication applications. The MPLS VPN network selected by access:Seven provides VPN services for critical data applications and for delay and jitter sensitive voice services.
The Cisco equipment that is in the access:Seven network comprises more than 90% of the company's network hardware, earning access:Seven the coveted Cisco Powered Network (CPN) designation. The Cisco Powered Network Program is a joint marketing agreement between Cisco and a select group of service providers who provision their services end-to-end with Cisco equipment. Cisco allows program members to use the value of the industry-leading Cisco brand name and its knowledge and expertise in the promotion of their services.
About access:Seven
As a solution provider, access:Seven Communications GmbH offers medium-sized and large companies high-end broadband communication services. access:Seven's product portfolio includes integrated data, Internet, voice and application services. Using its MPLS-based networks, access:Seven has been expanding its market position as the technological leader in this sector. access:Seven was formed in February, 2000 with its head office in Frankfurt, Germany. For further information please visit http://www.access-7.de.
