MADRID (Carrier Ethernet World Congress, Booth No. 1) - September 25, 2006 - Cisco Systems® today announced it has made enhancements to its Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture to ease deployment of a wide range of business-focused and consumer-based services. The enhancements are designed to help increase service providers' revenues and customer loyalty while making delivery of the services more cost-effective.

The Cisco IP NGN architecture now incorporates standards-based Carrier Ethernet operations, administration and management (OAM) capabilities from the core to the customer premise, and it includes the Cisco® 7600 Series Routers, Cisco Metro Ethernet (ME) 3400 Series Ethernet Access Switches, Cisco Catalyst® 3750 Metro Series Switches, and Cisco 1841, 2800 and 3800 Integrated Services Routers. The new OAM features also include IEEE 802.1ag for service verification, IEEE 802.3ah for link layer troubleshooting, and Ethernet link management interface (E-LMI) for auto provisioning of customer premise equipment.

Cisco's recommended IP NGN implementation is its ServiceFlex design, based on a Carrier Ethernet infrastructure. The design allows for the rapid provisioning of, and transition to, Ethernet-based services; the OAM enhancements help service providers manage service-level agreements (SLAs). With Cisco ServiceFlex, Ethernet-based business services and residential "triple play" services can be delivered over a single converged Ethernet infrastructure, enabling service providers to increase revenues per customer without significant increases in capital expenditures.

Cisco also announced the availability of two new form factors for the Cisco ME 3400 Ethernet Access Switches, which play an integral part in Cisco's Carrier Ethernet product portfolio by supporting Ethernet connectivity to business-oriented multi-tenant units (MTUs) and single-tenant units (STUs) as well as residential-oriented multi-dwelling units (MDUs). Purpose-built for service provider needs, the Cisco ME 3400 Series Ethernet Access Switches are the first in the industry optimized for both residential "triple play" and business virtual private network (VPN) services markets.

The Cisco ME 3400-12CS and Cisco ME 3400-2CS Ethernet Access switches are available now and start at a list price of $6,995 USD for the 12CS and $1,695 USD for the 2CS. The Cisco Integrated Services Router portfolio includes the Cisco 800 to Cisco 3800 series routers. The entire line of routers is available now ranges from a list price of $399 to $13,000 USD.

Enabling New High-Value Business Services Over Carrier Ethernet

Cisco today also announced general availability of new Cisco Managed Services Solution (MSS) network management tools and associated lifecycle services. With Cisco integrated services routers as the endpoint of a Carrier Ethernet solution, service providers can deliver higher-value business services over a single converged Ethernet infrastructure. The Cisco MSS simplifies and speeds the provisioning of managed customer premise equipment (CPE) and a wide range of managed security services such as managed Network Address Translation/firewalls and managed IP security (IPsec) VPNs.

The Cisco MSS consists of Cisco network management software that provisions, configures and monitors the integrated services router and security services; and advanced services (professional services) that support the planning, deployment and optimization of managed services.

"Cisco recognizes that service providers will derive approximately 40 percent of their net new revenues from business services and that the profitability of these services requires an IP NGN architecture that enables business services to reside on the same Ethernet infrastructure as residential triple-play services," said Bryan Van Dussen, director of business markets research with In-Stat, a high-tech market research firm. "Cisco delivers a compelling solution that integrates its industry-leading integrated services router and Ethernet infrastructure for rapid delivery and end-to-end manageability of business Ethernet services, managed CPE, and managed security services over a common architecture."

Enhancing the Consumer Experience with E-FTTH

Cisco today also announced the availability of the Cisco ME 4924 Gigabit Ethernet Switch, a new single rack unit 10-Gbps-enabled access aggregation switch, and part of the Cisco Ethernet Fiber to the Home (E-FTTH) solution. The Cisco E-FTTH solution is also an integral part of the Cisco IP NGN architecture and is recommended as part of its intelligent ServiceFlex network layer design as a viable access alternative to Passive Optical Network (PON) access.

The Cisco E-FTTH solution is aimed at helping improve end users' experience by offering ultra high-speed "quad-play" voice, video, data and mobility services over Cisco IP NGNs.

The Cisco end-to-end E-FTTH portfolio includes, but is not limited to, the following platforms:

• Cisco 7600 Series Routers for consumer and business service aggregation;
• Cisco 4500 Series Switches and Cisco ME 4900 Series Switches for access aggregation;
• Cisco ME 3400 Ethernet Access Switches for multi-tenant apartment buildings; and
• Scientific Atlanta® Model 90600 Optical Network Terminator (ONT) for home termination.

The Cisco ME 4924 Gigabit Ethernet Access Switch is available now and starts at a list price of $43,500 USD.

"Cisco's new Ethernet FTTH products are designed to help service providers move their residential quad-play services to a new level," said Michael Howard, principal analyst and co-founder of Infonetics Research, an international consultancy specializing in data networking and telecommunications. "The Cisco Ethernet FTTH product set provides for bandwidth scalability, flexibility in services that can be offered, and network resiliency, which will help to improve the quality of experience for residential end users."

Cisco ServiceFlex Design Helps Service Providers Launch New Services

By adopting Cisco IP NGN and deploying the Cisco ServiceFlex design, service providers can deliver innovative business and residential services over Carrier Ethernet to their customers with greater velocity. Service providers can also improve their operational and capital expenditure efficiencies while advancing the network technology and service control that they and their customers need for long-term business success.

M2C

M2C is a Russian Internet service provider (ISP) formed with the intention of offering the country's first "triple-play" services in Murmansk, the largest city in the Artic circle located in the Northwest region. M2C is aiming to provide video-on-demand, IPTV and Voice over IP (VoIP) services for businesses and residents as well as telemetry for the engineering systems of the city and security services for city government agencies. M2C has deployed Ethernet OAM-capable Cisco 7600 Series Routers and Cisco ME 3400 Ethernet Access switches in its network providing fiber to the building.

"Cisco has been able to provide us with complete design architecture and a clear vision of ISP market development," said Denis Shulga, head of the board of directors for M2C. "Our goal in working with the city of Murmansk is to establish a network for them that interconnects with all businesses and homes, thus enabling end users to enjoy a user experience that is second to none."

SureWest Communications

SureWest, the first telecom service provider to offer high-definition television (HDTV) programming and a Cisco Powered Network member, is enhancing its ability to develop and deliver advanced IP video services over an Ethernet FTTH network with the Cisco IP NGN architecture featuring Cisco 4500 Series Switches in the Sacramento, Calif., area.

"We are committed to meeting customer demand for advanced telecommunications services,' said Bill DeMuth, vice president and chief technology officer, SureWest Communications. "Using advanced technology to deliver these services over a single IP-based network lets us grow quickly and cost-effectively. Having an open-architected, standards-based solution that enables us to supply reliable, flexible and scalable services is critical, and Cisco meets that need."

To learn more about SureWest's deployment click of the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns561/networking_solutions_customer_profile0900aecd804a93ed.html

UNET/City of Almere

UNET B.V., one of the leading providers of innovative broadband services in the Netherlands, chose the Cisco E-FTTH solution to help it deliver ultra-high-speed (1 gigabits per second) broadband voice, video (including high-definition TV) and data services over an optical fiber network to public buildings and not-for-profit organizations throughout the city of Almere in the Netherlands.

"Cisco gives us the versatility and quality of service capability to support true multiservice delivery, with voice and video, to consumers and businesses over the same Ethernet infrastructure," said Ger Bakker, director of technology at UNET. "Public sector organizations in Almere are already benefiting from centralized, shared services, such as IP telephony, data backup and storage and remote video surveillance, delivered over symmetrical broadband connections of up to 2 gigabit per second."