BBMB embraces Madge Networks' ATM technology; Malaysia's second-largest bank builds a cutting-edge network with Madge switches.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 1997--Seeking to build a reliable, high-bandwidth switched network that can support data, video and multimedia applications, Bank Bumiputra Malaysia Berhad (BBMB), the second largest bank in Malaysia, has completed the first phase of a major network upgrade based on high-performance ATM switches and adapters and Ethernet switches from Madge Networks (NASDAQ:MADGF).

By installing a fiber-optic backbone and Madge's award-winning switches, the bank has built a network with the bandwidth to support both next-generation applications and rapid growth at its 34-floor headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

BBMB's general manager of information technology, Osman Marzuki said, "The shift to an ATM network has not only solved our previous bandwidth problems, but given us the infrastructure to support new Internet and Intranet connectivity, new multimedia applications, such as video-conferencing and video-based training, and future electronic banking products and services."

BBMB's Mnet ATM Network

In the center of BBMB's network upgrade project (code-named Menara Network or Mnet for short) are two Madge Collage(TM) 740 ATM backbone switches, which provide 155Mbps of bandwidth over the fiber optic backbone. At the workgroup level, the Collage 280 Workgroup ATM Switch provides 25Mbps ATM or 10Mbps Ethernet switching connections to division/departmental hubs, which provide desktop users with 10Mbps switched Ethernet connections. All switches are managed from a central site with Madge's Trueview network management software.

According to Noor Hisham, a network consultant at BBMB, the seamless integration of Madge's Ethernet and ATM switches was key to their decision. "Moving from Ethernet to ATM is a real jump; we evaluated technology from many vendors when we were planning our network," said Hisham. "We chose Madge because it offered us not only outstanding performance, but a simple, clear migration path from Ethernet to ATM."

In the first phase of building the ATM network, the company installed the high-speed backbone and provided switched 10Mbps Ethernet connections to users and servers. In the next phase of the rollout, BBMB plans to migrate its servers to 155Mbps ATM connections.

"We are moving from a centralized IBM host-based banking system to a distributed client/server banking system, where the mainframe will continue to act as the master server, along with distributed server clusters," said Hisham. "So the ability to move servers one at a time, from Ethernet connections to faster ATM connections, is key to a gradual transition for us. Currently, the bank has thirty departmental servers and ten dedicated application servers."

"Because of limited bandwidth, our old network was segmented based on specific servers, which restricted user communications as well as access to applications to that specific segment," said Azharuddin Datuk Ibrahim, BBMB's deputy general manager of Information Technology. "Now, we have a single, flat network, which has not only improved communications, but is also much easier to manage from a single desktop."

According to Ibrahim, BBMB's Mnet has been designed with full redundancy to make the network fault tolerant, with no single point of failure -- a crucial feature as BBMB migrates its mission-critical applications to distributed servers.

BBMB's Mnet network was installed in about three months by teams from BBMB, Madge and ParaCation Sdn Bhd, the system integrator retained by BBMB. The network went live last September, three weeks ahead of schedule.

"We were very impressed with the ease of installation and could not be happier with the new network," said Hisham. "The Mnet team, Madge and ParaCation engineers really planned the transition well, so there were no sudden network crashes or unexplained problems."

About Bank Bumiputra Malaysia Berhad (BBMB)

Bank Bumiputra Malaysia Berhad is the second-largest bank in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, BBMB has about 200 branch offices throughout Malaysia and overseas, offering both commercial and consumer banking services. BBMB aims to focus on key sectors of the Malaysian economy, including potential growth sectors, by employing highly professional staff force and state-of-the-art technology in all business areas in a cost-effective manner and providing high quality value-added products and services.

About Madge Networks

Madge Networks (NASDAQ:MADGF) is a leading worldwide supplier of end-to-end switched networking solutions for large enterprises, with a special focus on multiservice networking, i.e., networks which will be able to support integrated data, voice and video. The company, an originator of ATM, Ethernet, ISDN and Token Ring technology, offers a range of products from desktop connections through LAN and WAN switches and enterprise network management software.

Madge is recognized for its customer support without limits, technology excellence and end-to-end networking expertise. It serves its multinational customer base in more than 20 countries worldwide from five major business centers located in Hong Kong, London, San Jose, Tel Aviv and Tokyo. -0-

Internet: http://www.madge.com

Madge, the Madge Logo and Collage are trademarks, and in some jurisdictions may be registered trademarks, of Madge Networks or its affiliated companies. Other trademarks appearing in this document are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Madge Networks

Stacy Biesen-Geise, 408/952-9437

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