Cisco Extends Global IP NGN Leadership With Carrier Ethernet Portfolio Updates; Introduces Products in Carrier Ethernet Switching and Optical Transport.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cisco Systems(R) (Nasdaq:CSCO) today announced enhancements to its Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture with new products for its Carrier Ethernet portfolio. This offers service providers flexible deployment options through the combined benefits of optical, routing, and switching products and technologies.

Specifically, Cisco introduced the Cisco ME 6500 Series Ethernet Switch and the Cisco ONS 15310 Metro Access (MA) multiservice provisioning platform (MSPP), which delivers Carrier Ethernet services over synchronous optical network, or SONET infrastructures.

The Cisco ME 6500 Series are high-performance, fully featured, and resilient Ethernet switches that are deployable in both the access and aggregation layers of a service provider network. Purpose-built for service providers and based on ground-breaking and industry-leading Cisco Catalyst 6500 technology, the Cisco ME 6500 Series are the industry's first Carrier Ethernet switches that are optimized for both consumer "triple play" (video, voice, and data) services and business-class virtual private network (VPN) services over fiber optic networks.

To make the transformation to an IP NGN, knowledge and expertise in technology, application and business operations is required. Customers using the Cisco ME 6500 Series Ethernet Switch can take advantage of the IP NGN Expertise Center that brings together globally distributed resources, partners , labs, knowledge repositories, engineers and tools to support the complete lifecycle of Carrier Ethernet deployment. These services lower the total cost of ownership and increase the speed of the IP NGN transformation.

The Cisco ME 6500 Series enhance Cisco's existing Carrier Ethernet switching portfolio, which includes the Cisco ME 3400 Series Ethernet Access switches (see today's related customer announcement "UNET Delivers Gigabit Broadband Services to the City of Almere with Cisco Carrier Ethernet Technology").

"The Cisco ME 6500 is capable of offering triple play and FTTx services by providing Gigabit Ethernet density, hardware-enabled IPv4, support for IPv6, MPLS and IP multicast technologies, all in a space- and power-optimized chassis," said Keiichi Makizono, general manager of the Technology Division at SOFTBANK BB.

The Cisco ONS 15310-MA system is a modular and fully redundant access platform that complements the Cisco ONS 15454 system. The Cisco ONS 15310-MA platform allows carriers to protect their investments by continuing to offer existing time division multiplexing (TDM) revenue streams with a high-density of DS1/DS3 and generate new Ethernet service revenues with their SONET-based networks for business and residential triple play services.

As a core component of the Cisco optical MSPP portfolio, the Cisco ONS 15310-MA system is a hardened platform ideally suited for RT cabinets or in-buildings, and small central offices and offers service providers a smooth transition to Ethernet private-line and switched Ethernet services with 50msec SONET or Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) protection.

Both the Cisco ME 6500 Series and the Cisco ONS 15310-MA platforms have received Metro Ethernet Forum's MEF9 Carrier Ethernet certifications, which demonstrate that these products meet MEF standards for technical specifications and interoperability. Cisco leads the networking industry in terms of MEF Carrier Ethernet certifications with 12 of its products having been certified. For a complete list of the certified products and technologies in the Cisco Carrier Ethernet portfolio, go to www.metroethernetforum.org.

Cisco's innovation and technology leadership in Carrier Ethernet has translated to market leadership. According to a recent market research data, Cisco is the global leader in Carrier Ethernet switches and router products. Cisco has also demonstrated worldwide customer adoption of its Carrier Ethernet products and technologies with previous announcements involving service providers such as BellSouth, neuf telecom, SBC, Softbank BB Corporation, Swisscom, Tata VSNL, and TeliaSonera.

The Cisco Carrier Ethernet portfolio supports the Cisco IP NGN architecture, designed to increase providers' ability to deliver innovative new services, improve their operational and capital expenditure efficiencies, and advance the value-added network and service control that they need for long-term business success.

"Cisco has laid out a vision and architecture for Carrier Ethernet that provides service providers a broad selection of flexible options across all network domains," said Michael Howard, principal analyst at Infonetics, a research firm who closely tracks the Carrier Ethernet market. "Cisco announced products today that deliver a number of important network services at cost-effective price points, adding to Cisco's already large portfolio."

Pricing and Availability

The Cisco ME 6500 Series Ethernet switches are available in two models and are available now, starting at a list price of $24,000. The Cisco ONS 15310-MA platform is also available now and varies in price based on configuration. A basic configuration model starts at a list price of $18,000.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

Cisco, 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.