Cascade introduces IP Navigator, carrier-class IP for wide area networks.

WESTFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 1996--

Industry's first IP solution designed to address the problems of

scaling service provider WANs

Cascade Communications Corp. (NASDAQ:CSCC) today announced the introduction of IP Navigator, the industry's first carrier-class switching solution for IP wide area networks (WANs).

IP Navigator combines the efficiency of WAN switching with the intelligence of IP routing in a single platform. A software-only upgrade, IP Navigator extends across the entire Cascade product line, delivering IP transport with end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees. Leveraging Frame Relay and ATM technology, IP Navigator is the only standards-based IP routing solution that meets the rigorous capacity, scalablity and reliability requirements of carrier-class IP networks. Supporting up to 250,000 routes in its initial release, more than five times the size of the current Internet, IP Navigator delivers the technology necessary to scale service provider networks to effectively address the growth in IP traffic.

"We're now entering a new paradigm of data communications where innovative technologies are crucial to support the scalability requirements of large IP networks," said Fred Sammartino, director of IP marketing at Cascade Communications Corp. "IP Navigator provides the WAN scalability required by network service providers and also delivers open access to standard routing protocols and emerging edge protocols such as IFMP, TDP and NHRP(1). This enables network service providers and end users the flexibility to select the appropriate technology to extend QoS guarantees from the WAN to the desktop."

Using IP Navigator's QoS capabilities in combination with Cascade's Virtual Network Navigator (VNN) connection-oriented routing technology, network service providers now can leverage a single physical infrastructure to deliver a host of Virtual Private Network (VPN) services. IP Navigator delivers VPN services such as network outsourcing, corporate intranets and multi-company closed user groups by creating multiple network configurations tailored to meet specific customer requirements.

Some of the major benefits IP Navigator provides to network service providers include:

End-to-End QoS IP Navigator provides end-to-end QoS for IP traffic. As a result, network service providers can meet specific service requirements and can offer different levels of service to their customers.

Scalability IP Navigator's connection-oriented IP solution scales far beyond any other vendor's proposed solution -- up to 250,000 routes. Today's Internet is 42,000 routes, and growing rapidly.

Performance IP Navigator enhances IP performance by reducing dependencies on external routers and expediting IP route selection. IP Navigator leverages Cascade's high-performance Frame Relay and ATM switching technology to transport IP traffic quickly through the network.

Open Architecture IP Navigator's open access to standard edge protocols, including IFMP, TDP, NHRP, RIP, OSPF, and BGP, allows network service providers to extend QoS from the WAN to the desktop. Cascade's multivendor, multiprotocol open strategy allows IP Navigator to be the "agnostic" core of the network. It gives network service providers and end users the flexibility to design networks using equipment and protocols that best meet their technical and business requirements, while still receiving the benefits of switching IP packets end-to-end through the WAN with QoS guarantees.

"Cascade provides a connection-oriented IP solution that allows large WANs to avoid IP network meltdown under relentless demands for continued network growth," said Dave Passmore, president of Decisys, Inc.

"We are very excited at the prospect of using Cascade's IP Navigator because with a simple software upgrade, it will give us an integrated IP routing function that works with our existing network architecture," said Craig Clemens, director of network operations at NETCOM. "And, it's manageable from a single CascadeView Network Management System platform."

IP Navigator's architecture features the following capabilities:

Virtual Network Navigator (VNN) Cascade's OSPF-based networking architecture provides the reliable and resilient internal network communications essential for support of large Frame Relay and ATM switched networks. The use of VNN as a technology base for IP Navigator ensures a scalable, reliable solution for building large IP WANs that interoperate seamlessly with existing Cascade switched networks.

Multicast IP Navigator is the first to include support for standards- based IP Multicast functionality in both hardware and software. These IP multicast features will allow network service providers the ability to widely deploy next-generation networking applications based on multicast functionality, such as broadcast video and distance learning applications.

Fully distributed routing decisions Cascade's fully distributed routing provides redundancy and reliability because there is no central processor to create a single point of failure in the network.

Common network management platform IP Navigator is supported by the CascadeView Network Management System, providing a single network view of the network.

"Cascade will be a significant player in this arena because they have an innovative strategy that addresses these switching issues ignored by other vendors," said Tom Nolle, president of CIMI Corp. "In addition, the software-only upgrade allows service providers to deploy the IP Navigator immediately --- without a major capital investment."

Pricing and Availability

IP Navigator will be in beta sites this month and the first customer shipment will be available in the first half of 1997. A software-only upgrade is priced at $15,000 per switch.

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About Cascade Communications Corp.

Cascade Communications Corp. (NASDAQ:CSCC) is at the forefront of broadband data communications with its family of scalable, carrier-class Frame Relay, ATM and Remote Access switching products. Used by public carriers and Internet service providers worldwide, Cascade's products are forming the foundation of the public network infrastructure for global communications. Cascade is headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts, USA, with offices throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia/Pacific.

IP Navigator is a trademark of Cascade Communications Corp.

(1)IFMP Ipsilon Flow Management Protocol, TDP: Tag Distribution Protocol, NHRP: Next Hop Routing Protocol.

CONTACT: Press Contacts:

Lucia F. Graziano

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Cascade Communications Corp.

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Susan Shelby

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Neva Group, Inc.

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Investor Contact:

Suzanne M. DuLong

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Cascade Communications Corp.

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