SuperComm Booth Number 21355
SAN JOSE, Calif., and ATLANTA, June 2, 2003 - Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), today announced that BellSouth® has selected the Cisco® ONS 15454 SONET Multiservice Provisioning Platform (MSPP) as part of the company's plans to migrate from a traditional Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) network to a more cost-effective, highly flexible, and scalable optical infrastructure. This network transformation strategy will enhance BellSouth's already extensive optical network to support new data services such as metro Ethernet as well as allow increased customer service flexibility, including enhanced service-level agreements and incremental speed options.
"Carrier-class functionality and reliability as well as operations-support-system interoperability were fundamental requirements," said Peter Hill, vice president, Technology Planning and Deployment, BellSouth. "Cisco rose to the challenge of meeting our demanding network-grade requirements on their innovative, service flexible, base platform."
As part of an extensive evaluation process, the Cisco ONS 15454 completed rigorous testing in BellSouth's labs. The test suite included performance testing of transport from DS1 (1.544Mb/s) through OC-192 (9.953Gb/s), 10/100BASE-T and Gigabit Ethernet data services, Network Equipment Building Standards (NEBS)-3 compliant platform integrity, operational features, and management capability suitable for scaled carrier-class network deployment.
"Cisco pioneered the MSPP category and we are extremely pleased to provide our market-leading technology for BellSouth's highly innovative multiservice network," said Jayshree Ullal, senior vice president and general manager, Optical Networking Group, Cisco Systems. "BellSouth shares our vision for a service-transparent network, using multiservice platforms to create efficient infrastructures that deliver the widest range of voice, Ethernet and bandwidth services."
Earlier completion of the Telcordia Technologies, Inc. OSMINE process for TIRKS, NMA, and Transport Element Activation Manager operations support systems (OSSs) helped validate the Cisco ONS 15454 could be transparently integrated with BellSouth's existing OSS environments for fast provisioning and maintenance as well as overall network management.
The market-leading Cisco ONS 15454 is 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 SuperComm conference in Atlanta from June 2-5, 2003, at booth number 21355.
About BellSouth Corporation
BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications services company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, serving more than 44 million customers in the United States and 14 other countries.
Consistently recognized for customer satisfaction, BellSouth provides a full array of broadband data solutions to large, medium-sized and small businesses. In the residential market, BellSouth offers digital subscriber line (DSL) high-speed Internet access, advanced voice features and other services. BellSouth also offers long distance service throughout its markets, serving both business and residential customers. The company's BellSouth AnswersSM package combines local and long distance service with an array of calling features; wireless data, voice and e-mail services; and high-speed DSL or dial-up Internet service. BellSouth also provides online and directory advertising services through BellSouth® Real Pages.comSM and The Real Yellow Pages®.
BellSouth owns 40 percent of Cingular Wireless, the nation's second-largest wireless company, which provides innovative data and voice services.
