Avici intros new Multi-Service Connect MSC platform, makes high performance converged networks a reality.

Avici Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:AVCI) has announced the availability of its Multi-Service Connect MSC platform, a new family of linecards that enables carriers to converge multiple services such as ATM, frame relay, voice, and IP over their IP/MPLS networks. Avici's new MSC platform combines Avici's unique carrier-class routing technology and Intel IXP2400 network processors to provide carriers with ASAP Any Service Any Port flexibility to configure the linecard through software to support ATM, frame relay, POS/PPP or MPLS. Using Avici's MSC platform, carriers can deliver legacy and new real-time services over IP while eliminating the cost and complexity of maintaining multiple parallel backbone networks.

Avici will be showing the MSC linecard along with its SSR and QSR carrier routers at SUPERCOMM 2003 from June 3-5 in booth # 23837. Avici's MSC linecards support a wide range of interfaces and service types compared with traditional linecards, which require a dedicated linecard for each specific service or interface. In addition, the MSC platform delivers powerful quality-of-service features, reliability, performance and up to six times the density of alternative solutions.

"Avici clearly understands what is required to elevate IP to a carrier-class level," said Dr. Michael Kennedy, managing partner of Network Strategy Partners. "The MSC linecard represents a significant milestone for the routing industry as carriers now have a viable, cost-effective platform to consolidate ATM, frame relay and IP services across a scalable, highly reliable multi-service core."

The delivery of the MSC platform represents another industry first for Avici. Avici set the bar for the routing industry by being the first router vendor to ship a scalable 99.999 percent high-availability router. By deploying Avici's routing platforms, carriers reduce CapEx and OpEx costs in the point of presence (PoP) by consolidating core, aggregation and peering functions onto a single platform, while Avici's NSR Non-Stop Routing solution puts an end to the costly practice of duplicating routers per PoP. With the addition of its MSC platform, Avici delivers the next level of PoP simplification by consolidating multiple networks onto a highly reliable, scalable and cost-effective backbone.

Avici and Intel worked closely together in developing the MSC platform. "Intel's high performance, programmable network processors and design and fabrication capabilities, coupled with Avici's software development, protocol scaling, reliability and carrier integration testing, has resulted in this powerful multi-service linecard," said Jim Finnegan, general manager of Intel's Network Processor Division. "Combining the best Intel has to offer with Avici's carrier routing features has resulted in a highly flexible new model for enabling critical network services."

Avici Systems CEO Steve Kaufman said, "Carriers today recognize that one of the keys to profitability is improving their cost structure by reducing the number of networks they're running. Avici's work with Intel has resulted in a technology breakthrough that allows service providers to converge multiple data networks over a single highly reliable IP backbone."

Avici Systems Inc., headquartered in North Billerica, Mass., is a leading provider of purpose-built carrier-class routing solutions for the Internet. Avici's family of routers is designed to meet carrier requirements for the highest scalability, reliability and network availability, while lowering the total cost of building and operating their networks. The company's routing systems provide new IP solutions to some of the world's leading service providers.