Cisco Announces New Cable Broadband Access Product to Support Integrated Data, Voice and Video.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 1999--

The Cisco uBR924 Universal Broadband Router Debuts at the

Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced a new cable broadband access product that will support integrated data, voice and video.

"This product represents a major breakthrough in functionality, security and quality-of-service for broadband access products," said Paul Bosco, general manager of Cisco's Cable Products and Solutions Group. "As part of Cisco's end-to-end data, voice and video strategy, the uBR924 could change the way communications services are delivered to consumers. Consumers using the uBR924 will now be able to get phone service from their cable company, in addition to high-speed Internet access, television and other services."

In related announcements today, Cisco also announced plans to introduce a new type of 'personalized network' for the home; a coalition of 33 telephone companies, cable companies, Internet service providers (ISPs) and consumer electronic companies that will support Cisco's strategy to extend a New World of high-speed Internet services and products to the consumer market; and a preliminary agreement with General Instrument to develop and trial on a non-exclusive basis for AT&T a seamless, end-to-end Internet Protocol (IP) solution that would allow AT&T to offer data, voice and video services over the hybrid fiber-coax network now being deployed by AT&T and TCI.

The Cisco uBR924 Universal Broadband Router (uBR), on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week, is the first in a family of open, standards-based cable broadband access products that will support integrated Voice-over-IP (VoIP) and data access using cable operator hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) facilities. Data-over-Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS)/International Telecommunications Union (ITU) J.112-compliant, the compact uBR924 is designed for the small office/home office, business telecommuters and educational institutions that intend to support an integrated data, voice and video network infrastructure.

The Cisco uBR924 will include two voice ports, four data ports and a cable port to provide toll quality telephony, multiple Ethernet connections with an embedded hub, and built-in security using IP Security (IPSec) to encrypt Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for both voice and data. The uBR924 integrates the functionality of a traditional cable modem and an access router in one cost-effective package. Based on the carrier-class stability and functionality of the industry leading Cisco IOS(R) software, the uBR924 maximizes the efficiency of the network bandwidth utilization, and in turn should allow cable operators to derive higher profits from the same scarce network resources.

The uBR924 is compatible with the DOCSIS ITU-J.112 standard for interoperable cable modems, and is designed in accordance with the evolving extension of the standard, which is generally referred to as DOCSIS 1.1. The product incorporates innovative quality-of -service (QoS) technology that enables the provision of toll quality telephony service over an IP-based cable network. QoS features also enable cable operators to offer differentiated services to businesses at premium prices.

The uBR924 is the second cable customer premise equipment (CPE) product that Cisco has introduced in the past year. In July of 1998 Cisco began shipping the uBR904, an integrated router and cable modem which is also compatible with the DOCSIS ITU-J.112 standard. The uBR904 provides one cable port and four Ethernet ports, and is also targeted at the small office, home office and telecommuter market segments.

Pricing and Availability

The Cisco uBR924 has a target list price of $1,000 and will begin customer trials in 1Q99. General availability will be in 2Q99.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

Note to Editors: Cisco, Cisco IOS, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.