SAN JOSE, Calif. - March 18, 2002 - Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced that Axia SuperNet Ltd. recommended, and the Government of Alberta has selected, the Cisco ONS 15454 SONET Multiservice Platform to deliver high-speed voice, video, and data capabilities over the Alberta SuperNet. The Alberta SuperNet is a unique Government of Alberta initiative to connect every school, hospital, library, and provincial government office in Alberta to a high-speed, broadband network. As part of this multiservice solution, Cisco will provide scalable, reliable data connectivity through high-bandwidth Gigabit Ethernet interfaces for the ONS 15454.
Demand for Ethernet connectivity continues to be fueled by its ubiquity among businesses, low cost deployment and maintenance, and extensive scalability. Additionally, Gigabit Ethernet connectivity deployed over a fiber optic network with the ONS 15454 utilizes the inherent protection mechanisms of a synchronous optical network (SONET) architecture for carrier class reliability - defined by restoration in 50 milliseconds or less. By designing the SuperNet with Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, the Government of Alberta cost-effectively enables high-bandwidth data services to boost productivity.
"The Government of Alberta has recognized the value of high-speed multiservice connectivity as a driving force in business and economic development. The Alberta SuperNet is a significant project that propels the province of Alberta into a new era of advanced communications which will enable greater productivity and greater opportunity," said Drew McNaughton, COO of Axia SuperNet Ltd. "With Cisco Systems providing a flexible, multiservice optical networking foundation, we are able to achieve cost efficiencies and most effectively utilize our bandwidth resources to enable high-speed data, voice, and video connectivity."
The market-leading ONS 15454 is an integral component of the Cisco Complete Optical Multiservice Edge and Transport (COMET) optical portfolio. The Gigabit Ethernet card used in the ONS 15454 provides four full-duplex Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, offering high-data capacity with exceptional density. Combining data traffic with existing voice and time division multiplexed (TDM) traffic ensures that wavelengths are efficiently packed and bandwidth is most effectively utilized. Gigabit Ethernet delivers low cost per bit for data transport, carrier class reliability, and scalability for high-bandwidth services.
"The Government of Alberta is pioneering advanced broadband communications with the Alberta SuperNet. The Alberta SuperNet is a progressive communications foundation designed to support deployment of high bandwidth services across the province," said Rob Koslowsky, director of marketing, optical networking group, Cisco Systems. "Gigabit Ethernet is a rapidly growing service in metro networks, and Gigabit Ethernet capabilities on the ONS 15454 multiservice platform enable customers like the Government of Alberta to deliver this service with maximized service density and carrier class reliability."
The Alberta SuperNet is a high-capacity fiber optic and wireless network linking government offices, schools, health-care facilities, and libraries in more than 400 Alberta communities. Additionally, Internet Service Providers and private businesses will be able to access the SuperNet in each community through points of presence (PoPs), extending broadband connectivity across Alberta. With the Alberta SuperNet, the Government of Alberta will create a province-wide network that provides equal access opportunities for rural and urban areas. Information on Alberta SuperNet is available at http://www.albertasupernet.ca/, http://www.axia.com/ or http://www.supernetportal.com.
About Cisco's Complete Optical Multiservice Edge and Transport Portfolio
The Cisco Complete Optical Multiservice Edge and Transport (COMET) product line offers maximum service velocity, density, variety, and capacity, building the foundation to accelerate IP+Optical networking. Supporting TDM, Ethernet, IP, Storage, and Wavelength services over SONET and DWDM with integrated bandwidth management and end-to-end provisioning, the Cisco COMET portfolio offers efficient, unprecedented flexibility, and capacity. With the Cisco COMET portfolio, enterprises and service providers drive profitability and accelerate IP+Optical networking.
