CAEN, France, October 28, 2009 – Cisco today announced that the Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie (CRBN) has deployed Cisco® Unified Communications Manager, running the new version of Internet Protocol (IPv6), to simplify its communications infrastructure.  The deployments will facilitate the implementation of new IPv6-based collaboration applications and services and help improve operational efficiency. The new system will operate with the council's VIKMAN research and education network, which uses the IPv6 protocol to provide a high-speed Internet connection between all of the region's research and training sites. CRBN is one of the first councils to deploy the latest version of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, running IPv6.

Highlights / Key Facts:

• Cisco's IPv6-ready Unified Communications Manager will allow CRBN to implement next-generation collaboration applications and services, such as rich-media conferencing and improved mobile access, which will help improve the efficiency of its operations and the productivity of its workforce.
• CRBN is taking an innovative approach to managing its operations, and the new capabilities offered by IPv6-ready Unified Communications Manager will help ensure that it continues to provide the highest level of service to its citizens.
• Cisco Unified Communications provides a wide range of communications capabilities that integrate into the rapidly emerging IPv6 networking ecosystem, including IP telephony and unified messaging. .
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager will also help CRBN simplify its communications infrastructure by automating a number of network processes, allowing CRBN to deploy applications without having make changes to its underlying network operations.
• The new dual-stack capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager will allow CRBN to transition to IPv6 at a pace that makes sense for the organisation, by allowing the coexistence of IPv4 and IPv6 within devices, gateways and system control servers.
• CRBN paved the way for the IPv6 deployment by preparing and upgrading its infrastructure in 2008-09, enabling IPv6 and Power over Ethernet across the campus LAN. The Cisco Unified Communications Manager deployment has been rolled out to some 600 users since Sept. 2009.
• CRBN is taking steps toward ensuring the agile delivery of services and applications, transforming the way IT manages, scales, provides security and governs networks. IPv6 allows its users to take full advantage of borderless networks by enabling connections to anyone and anything, anywhere, anytime, with a high degree of reliability and security.
• The CRBN deployment builds on a tradition of IPv6 leadership at Cisco, which has supported IPv6 in Cisco IOS® Software on the broadest set of platforms in the industry since Feb. 2001.
• Cisco has a long-standing commitment to supporting the European Commission in its research, education and stimulation efforts through major IPv6 projects aiming at a clear exploration, understanding, dissemination and implementation of IPv6 as a network evolution.
• To support public awareness Cisco presented the first Cisco Unified Communications Manager IPv6 solution at the IPv6 German task force meeting in May 2009.  Today's step is another tangible milestone toward IPv6 implementation.

Executive Quotes:

• Emmanuel Roussel, CRBN's Networking and Systems Department manager

"As a public sector organization we are continually looking for ways to improve the efficiency of our operations and the services for our public end users in Normandy through leadership and innovation." said CRBN's Networking and Systems Department Manager Emmanuel Roussel.  "We believe Cisco's IPv6-ready Unified Communications Manager will enable us to provide our customers with the most future-proof environment possible, stimulating us as well about the different new service creation opportunities that IPv6 is offering us."

• Barry O'Sullivan, senior vice president of Cisco's Voice Technology Group

"An IPv6-enabled infrastructure will allow CRBN to gradually adopt the next generation of Internet applications and services, which will help boost the productivity of its employees and significantly increase the efficiency of its operations. The network is the one pervasive element in the IT infrastructure. It touches all locations, departments and people as well as software and hardware. This deployment with CRBN demonstrates Cisco's ability to support IPv6 from core infrastructure right through to applications."

Links / URLs:

• Further content can be found at www.6net.org, www.6diss.org, www.u-2010.eu and www.6deploy.org.
• Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie website:  http://www.cr-basse-normandie.fr
• Map of Basse-Normandie region (capital Caen): http://sig.cr-basse-normandie.fr/atlas/cartes/pres_generale.jpg
• Cisco Carrier Grade IPv6 solution: http://bit.ly/3f8E2J
• IPv6 in the Enterprise: http://www.cisco.com/IPv6
• IP for Smart Objects Alliance: http://www.ipso-alliance.org

Tags / Keywords:

IPv6, borderless networks, European Commission, 6net, Unified Communications, France, Normandy