News Release

Cisco Optical Solutions Complete OSMINE Process to Simplify Integration with Carrier Operations

Completion of the Telcordia OSMINE Services Process Makes Cisco ONS 15600 and ONS 15216 Ready for RBOC Use
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Mar 24, 2003

OFC Booth Number 2824

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 24, 2003 - Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO), announced today that the Cisco® ONS 15600 Multiservice Switching Platform (MSSP) and ONS 15216 Metro DWDM optical filter have completed the comprehensive Telcordia Technologies, Inc.TM OSMINE Services process to help enable operations support system (OSS) interoperability with the TelcordiaTM TIRKS®, NMA® and TRANSPORT® systems. The OSMINE process tests interoperability between network elements and the existing OSS environments predominant among incumbent carriers' networks. With the OSMINE process completed, the Cisco ONS 15600 and ONS 15216 can be integrated into regional bell operating company (RBOC) networks for fast service provisioning.

"This is a significant milestone following the introduction of our ONS 15600 MSSP in September. With OSMINE testing completed, RBOC's can now take advantage of the multiple functionality in one platform while reducing cost and increasing simplicity and efficiency of network deployment," said Jim Sauer, director of product marketing, Optical Networking Group, Cisco Systems®. "Established carriers can use multiservice optical platforms like the ONS 15600 to incrementally add new revenue streams while increasing profitability of existing networks and services."

Introduced last fall, the Cisco ONS 15600 MSSP has completed the OSMINE process for the Telcordia TIRKS and NMA systems and Transport Element Activation Manager OSS testing is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2003. Combining Synchronous Optical Network (SONET)/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) multiplexers and digital cross-connect network elements, the Cisco ONS 15600 simplifies the metropolitan network by reducing the number of network elements, streamlining management and adding multiservice capacity in the service point-of-presence (POP) or central office.

The Cisco ONS 15216 completed the OSMINE process for TIRKS environments. The Cisco ONS 15216 supports up to 32 ITU-grid wavelengths and provides transport flexibility with optical filtering, optical add/drop multiplexing (OADM), optical performance monitoring, and amplification. The Cisco ONS 15216 is part of the Cisco Multiservice Transport Platform (MSTP) strategy also announced today. For more information read, "Cisco Integrated DWDM Solutions Maximize Services per Fiber and Extend Metro Reach."

"The goal of our OSMINE process is to support our customers' continued innovation. By reducing the complexity and cost of integrating new products with existing OSS systems, the OSMINE process speeds provisioning of valuable new services and enables telecommunications companies to continue investing in their networks for greater overall profitability," said Dennis Tinley, vice president, Customer Solutions, Telcordia Technologies. "Completion of the OSMINE process for the Cisco ONS 15600 and ONS 15216 optical solutions will help enable seamless interoperability with RBOC networks."

The Cisco ONS 15600 and ONS 15216 are part of the Cisco Complete Optical Multiservice Edge and Transport (COMET) portfolio. The Cisco COMET product line offers maximum service velocity, density, variety, and capacity, building the foundation to accelerate IP and optical networking. Cisco COMET news and information can be found at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/servpro/solutions/optical/.Cisco COMET optical solutions can be seen at the OFC conference in Atlanta, Ga. March 25-27, 2003 at booth number 2824.