Euskaltel Launches Usage-Based Cable Broadband Service with Service Exchange Capability of Cisco Internet Protocol Next Generation Network.

BILBAO, Spain -- Cisco Systems(R) (NASDAQ:CSCO) announced today that Euskaltel, the leading cable operator and broadband service provider in the Basque country in Spain, is introducing usage-based billing to its broadband services portfolio to enhance choice and lower the entry level to broadband services for its customers. The new billing capabilities are made possible using the Service Exchange Framework of the Cisco Internet Protocol Next Generation Network (IP NGN), which features the CableLabs standard-compliant Subscriber Account Management Interface Specification (SAMIS) embedded in the Cisco Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS). Euskaltel has recently gained a leading position in the broadband market as the operator with the largest number of broadband subscribers in the Basque country.

Euskaltel launched its usage-based broadband service in July 2005 to give its customers the broadest choice of bandwidth and billing options. "Euskaltel is aiming to universalise broadband through a strategy of offering the best range of services in the market," said Aitor Marcaida, Director of Marketing, Euskaltel. "Our objective is to maintain our lead in the Basque country as a broadband services provider. By providing the greatest choice and fastest access speeds, we hope to achieve the highest rate of broadband penetration and broadband usage for our customers." Euskaltel broadband services are available at bandwidths up to 8 Mbps on flat rate, time-based and usage-based billing options.

Idoia Uriarte, Network and Services Engineering Director at Euskaltel said: "Our cable access network is based on Cisco CMTS routers and we considered that utilising the embedded subscriber management features, based on a standard compliant solution, was the best way to deploy usage-based billing."

"Euskaltel operates in a fast-moving market and needs to be continuously proactive in developing its portfolio and expanding its customer base," said Luis Martins, Cable Solutions Development Manager, Cisco Systems. "The Service Exchange Framework is a fundamental component of Cisco's IP Next Generation Network and includes subscriber management solutions such as usage-based billing. Cisco's Service Exchange solutions are key to helping our customers bring more creative and attractive offerings to market more quickly."

The Euskaltel usage-based billing solution employs the detailed per-subscriber account and billing information present in the SAMIS-formatted Management Information Bases (MIBs), which are embedded in Cisco uBR7246VXR and Cisco uBR10012 universal broadband routers. The SAMIS format is specified within the Data-over-Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) Operations Support System Interface (OSSI) specification and is supported for cable modems compliant with DOCSIS 1.0, DOCSIS 1.1 and DOCSIS 2.0.

Inclusion of SAMIS in the Cisco CMTS is part of the Service Exchange Framework (SEF) of the Cisco IP NGN. The Service Exchange Framework is designed to help service providers deliver a variety of services to a range of devices over multiple access paths, and allows service providers to control customer access and use of services, without limiting the types of applications that can be deployed. The access-independent, open framework helps network operators achieve better understanding, visibility, and control of their network by telling them who their subscribers are, what services they are authorised for and what policies govern their use of those services. It helps network operators determine how to control the network and indicates where the users and their devices are at any given time. Greater visibility and control gives service providers better insight into customer activity and lets network operators deliver differentiated services, securely and profitably.

About Euskaltel

Euskaltel is a Basque Global Telecommunications Operator offering fixed and mobile telephone, Internet and television services. It is the Basque Autonomous Region's top Broadband Operator, with a market share of 45% in fixed telephony, 44% in Broadband Internet, 31% in mobile telephony and 25% of the total income from the telecommunications sector in the Basque Country. In 2004, our income for operations amounted to 291 million Euros, with 16.2 million Euros in profits. Euskaltel is deploying a last-generation fibre-optic network in the Basque Country with an investment of 1,200 million Euros -- 600 Euros per inhabitant -- the largest network investment per inhabitant in the entire Spanish State.

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