SAN JOSE, Calif., December 15, 2003 - Cisco Systems, Inc., today announced that affiliates of SBC Communications Inc. will begin using Cisco 7600 Series routers for the new SBC Metro Ethernet OPT-E-MAN service, a carrier-class switched Ethernet service that SBC is now introducing in several major metro markets.

Metro Ethernet service provides unique affordable Internet and data connections, easy upgrades for scalability and simple customer management of proven Ethernet technology. The OPT-E-MAN service will be powered by a Cisco equipment-based edge-to-edge network built on a Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) core.

"Cisco continues to strengthen its relationship with SBC Communications as evidenced by its use of the Cisco 7600 Series throughout its innovative Metro Ethernet deployment," said Lele Nardin, vice president and general manager of the Broadband Edge and Midrange Routing Business Unit at Cisco. "The robust Ethernet capabilities of the Cisco 7600 Series, which will support speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps and provide a variety of connectivity options , coupled with the platform's ability to deliver direct Internet access and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Virtual Private Networks (VPN) services, make it ideal for service providers that want to consolidate services at the edge of the network. Additionally, customers can benefit from the modularity of the Cisco 7600 Series to utilize the new Supervisor Engine 720-3BXL to bring powerful new capabilities like Layer 2 and Layer 3 MPLS VPN and wire-rate Internet Protocol version 6 services."

To learn more about the Cisco 7600 Series, go to: http://cisco.com/go/7600.