BellSouth Energizes Network Services with MPLS Technology and Region-Wide IP Backbone.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2003

BellSouth Taps Solutions from Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks 

to Outfit "Customer-Centric" Networks

BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) today announced that it is the first Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC) to utilize a region-wide, interLATA MPLS backbone enabling the latest evolution of information services and products for its customers.

The innovative technology allows BellSouth to provide IP and additional next generation solutions, answering businesses' demands for a complete communications portfolio.

"With IP traffic becoming more prominent on BellSouth's network, we are meeting customer needs by appropriately evolving our infrastructure," said Bill Smith, BellSouth's chief product development and technology officer. "BellSouth is committed to giving customers broader capabilities than ever before, all from a secure and reliable network infrastructure that is scalable to meet the growing needs of the market."

MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching) technology enables traffic engineering and enhanced performance of IP transport, while simultaneously facilitating quality of service. This IP transport technology allows customers to communicate with enhanced voice, data and video solutions over a common network platform. In order to help meet the growing desires of customers for convergence, BellSouth has deployed the BellSouth Regional IP Backbone (BRIB), the first of its kind. This next generation network has points of presence (POPs) in all major geographic areas in the BellSouth territory, ensuring that customers have access to its advanced features in most areas throughout the region.

The BRIB utilizes RFC 2547 compliant MPLS-architecture and other MPLS mechanisms, which allow BellSouth greater control of end-to-end services, traffic redundancy and immediate expansion capabilities. By utilizing the BRIB, BellSouth will expand/enhance its information service product offerings with Quality of Service (QoS) and enhanced Service Level Agreements (SLAs). The BRIB also allows BellSouth to offer and improve advanced end-to-end information services such as recently announced BellSouth(R) Managed Network VPN Service and upcoming VoIP solutions. Currently, BellSouth is routing all of its Dedicated Internet Access and DSL-based Internet services traffic over the new backbone. In addition to gaining access to enhanced products and services, companies help ensure their business continuity through the dynamic routing architecture the BRIB provides, something that is critical with the heightened focus of customers on Homeland Security.

Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) and Juniper Networks (Nasdaq: JNPR) are providing solutions in the BellSouth IP network core and edge to enable next generation information service offerings.

BellSouth's deployment of the Juniper Networks' routing platforms creates the BRIB core, providing a robust and scalable IP/MPLS foundation to support the reliable delivery of multiple services as the network evolves. The Juniper Networks T640 and M160 platforms manage the flow of customer IP traffic throughout BellSouth's region, with three central hubs located in Miami, Atlanta and New Orleans. The Juniper Networks platforms also provide the predictable performance and feature-rich packet processing demanded for the delivery of differentiated IP services.

"We're pleased to be playing a key role in BellSouth's network transformation and partnering with them on the build-out of their IP core network," said Jim Dolce, executive vice president, Worldwide Field Operations at Juniper Networks. "Our proven routing platforms have enabled BellSouth to deploy an IP/MPLS backbone that converges disparate access technologies to support both current and future IP services. This single, integrated network will result in improved operating efficiencies that will benefit both BellSouth and its customers."

In addition, BellSouth has adopted the Cisco 10000 and 12000 Series IP/MPLS platforms. Recognized for their proven high-availability, feature-rich core and edge capabilities and investment protection, these platforms play a critical role in the definition and deployment of a wide-range of customer-centric services. Cisco's 10000 and 12000 Series IP/MPLS platforms aggregate customer traffic and help ensure each customer receives required service attributes such as QoS, security, accounting, routing policies and VPN policy.

"We applaud BellSouth's vision for network-wide customer-centric services based around IP/MPLS technologies," said Mike Volpi, senior vice president and general manager of the Routing Technology Group at Cisco Systems. "We recognize the critical role our IP/MPLS platforms play in service delivery and the realization of BellSouth's vision. We look forward to working closely with BellSouth over the coming years to see their vision to success."

The MPLS infrastructure upgrades and the BRIB are significant milestones in the continuing evolution of BellSouth's network, and affect the core and edge portions of the company's IP backbone, the enabler of cutting-edge customer solutions such as Network VPN Service and VoIP capabilities. Customers can leverage these solutions to better integrate their business for enhanced productivity and collaboration. Enhanced next-generation services will be integrated into the MPLS infrastructure to provide a common platform for enhanced performance.

Today's announcement further extends BellSouth's ongoing data platform evolution announced in June, 2002, and supports the company's ability to provide local and long distance data and related information services to customers. BellSouth plans to announce additional technology providers later this year for its next-generation optical infrastructure build-out, as it continues to expand its data portfolio and network capabilities, partnering with industry leaders to ensure best-in-class solutions and delivery for customers.

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications services company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, serving more than 44 million customers in the United States and 14 other countries.

Consistently recognized for customer satisfaction, BellSouth provides a full array of broadband data solutions to large, medium and small businesses. In the residential market, BellSouth offers DSL high-speed Internet access, advanced voice features and other services. BellSouth also offers long distance service throughout its entire territory, serving both business and residential customers. The company's BellSouth Answers(SM) package combines local and long distance service with an array of calling features; wireless data, voice and e-mail services; and high-speed DSL or dial-up Internet service. BellSouth also provides online and directory advertising services through BellSouth(R)Real Pages(SM).com and The Real Yellow Pages(R).

BellSouth owns 40 percent of Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest wireless company, which provides innovative data and voice services.