I-PNNI accepted as work effort by the ATM Forum; Bay Networks leads successful multivendor initiative.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 23, 1996--A proposal to begin work on the integrated private network-to-network interface (I-PNNI) standard was passed by a wide margin by the PNNI Working Group of The ATM Forum meeting held last week in Anchorage, Alaska.

The proposal, which was initiated by Bay Networks, was jointly submitted by 16 major networking vendors.

I-PNNI is a single routing protocol for both ATM and existing internetwork layer protocols, such as IP. I-PNNI extends the capabilities of PNNI routing to the IP protocol, including quality of services (QoS) routing and the ability to scale networks. It allows QoS-sensitive routes to be computed based on the complete end-to-end network topology. This is an important step in providing QoS support for IP applications running over combined ATM and datagram networks. The work to specify this approach will be conducted by the PNNI Working Group of The ATM Forum.

I-PNNI is one of the key components of work needed to bring real time and QoS-sensitive IP applications to end users. These applications include desktop videoconferencing, audio conferencing, video on demand, and internet computer telephony integration. I-PNNI enhances and complements the activities underway currently in the ATM Forum's Multiprotocol over ATM (MPOA) Working Group and in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

"The growth of the IP community is exploding as more businesses deploy intranet and internet solutions. The real challenge facing customers and vendors alike is how best to deliver to IP users the inherent benefits of ATM in an efficient, cost-effective and simple manner," said Andy Ludwick, President of Bay Networks. "We're pleased that the industry will be focusing on I-PNNI to provide the solution to that challenge."

According to forecast data by the market research firm International Data Corp. (IDC), there were 11.7 million business internet and intranet users worldwide in 1995. IDC projects by 2000 these numbers will explode, reaching 122.7 million business internet and intranet users.

"I-PNNI is the core technology that enables this growing community of IP users to gain access to the native capabilities of ATM. Users no longer have to wait for native ATM applications to be written. I-PNNI integrates the two worlds of IP and ATM into one, helping to protect customers' investments in existing networks as they begin integrating additional technologies," said Rob Newman, Vice President of Product Management.

Bay Networks, Inc. is a worldwide leader in the internetworking market, providing a full line of products that serve enterprises, small offices and mobile workers. The company offers market-leading LAN and ATM switches, hubs, routers, remote and Internet access solutions, and network management applications, all unified by the BaySIS architecture. With revenue of $1.7 billion over the past four fiscal quarters, Bay Networks markets and supports its products from 121 offices around the world, providing 7x24 support coverage. Bay Networks' World Wide Web address is: http://www.baynetworks.com.

CONTACT: Bay Networks, Inc.

Drusie Demopoulos, 408/486-2511

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Bay Networks, Inc.

Chris Carleton, 508/436-3706

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