Infonet and Cisco Team to Give Multinational Enterprises High-performance, Secure VPN Service Over Open IP Architecture.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 10, 2000

Infonet Services Corporation, a world leader in providing global communications to multinational enterprises, and Cisco Systems Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced that they are working together to expand Infonet's global Internet Protocol (IP) backbone for the delivery of high-performance, secure Global IP Virtual Private Network (VPN) service over the public Internet.

Using Cisco's IP VPN solutions, including Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) capabilities and IPSec technology in Cisco's IOS, Infonet will achieve increased scalability, reduced network costs, and the ability to offer more diversified network applications to its customers. Infonet's enhanced Global IP VPN service will allow multinational enterprises to enjoy a lower total cost of ownership in running mission-critical, business-to-business applications and communications over the public Internet, while realizing the same level of performance and security obtained via a private network.

Since 1991, Infonet's customers have enjoyed robust VPN services via the company's fully managed, global IP backbone which is now beginning its third generation of Cisco backbone routers. The new Global IP VPN service, utilizing Infonet's Cisco Powered Network experience, is built on Cisco's 12000 series Gigabit Switch Router (GSR) for the optical IP networking core backbone, 7500 series and 7200 series routers for edge routing and a mix of Cisco 2500, 2600 and 3600 series routers for deployment at the customer premises.

In June 1999, Infonet began deploying the additional equipment and MPLS technology necessary for the new VPN solution including multiple Cisco 12008 GSRs, 7500 and 2600 series routers. The company will roll out the secure Internet VPN service in 21 countries beginning in March, with plans to expand service to 61 countries through 87 points of presence over the next two years. The expansion will allow Infonet to quickly and economically offer to its customers a host of new value-added IP features including IP VPNs with IPSec encryption and PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) digital certification, as well as new services such as high speed managed Internet access.

"Cisco and Infonet have combined forces to help create a better, faster 6 and less expensive network infrastructure that supports high-value integrated communications services," said Larry Lang, vice president of marketing for Cisco's Service Provider Line of Business. "With a New World network and its VPN infrastructure firmly in place, Infonet ensures that its customers will always have the newest networking capabilities to support initiatives such as electronic commerce and voice/video/data integration."

With IPSec support now enabled on Cisco 2600/3600 series routers, Infonet can deploy secure end-to-end networking services for their enterprise customers by duplicating some of the characteristics of Infonet's private network over the public Internet. "With IPSec, our customers can achieve industrial strength security and take advantage of the strongest encryption technologies available, such as DES and 3DES," said Doug Laurin, director of IP Business Services for Infonet. The Cisco 2600/3600 platforms support the full suite of Cisco VPN capabilities, including an integrated Firewall, intrusion detection, and security auditing, thereby providing an ideal platform for enterprise customers seeking cost-effective VPN solutions.

By deploying Cisco's 12000 series GSR, Infonet is providing customers the industry's market-leading carrier-class router that delivers the performance and services for building data optimized transport infrastructure. The 12000 series GSR provides an industry leading interface ranging from DS3, FE, GE, OC3/STM1 POS/ATM, OC12/STM4 POS/ATM and OC48 POS.

In addition to quality of service and scalability achieved with Cisco GSRs, Infonet's use of MPLS will allow it to scale the network to support tens of thousands of VPNs. MPLS also allows service providers to traffic engineer their VPN to ensure that latency sensitive traffic receives necessary network resources.

MPLS is an emerging IETF standard for highly-scalable, value-added IP service delivery. MPLS labels provide the ability to differentiate service classes for individual data flows, ensuring privacy, QoS and any- to-any connectivity. Cisco is leading the industry in delivering MPLS- based solutions that enable New World services, such as VPNs with strong service level agreements (SLAs) business customers demand.

About Infonet

Infonet Services Corporation is a world leader in providing global communications services to multinational enterprises. Infonet provides Internet, intranet, ATM, electronic commerce and integrated voice/data solutions plus a full suite of messaging and collaborative products and services. Infonet's services are supported locally in more than 60 countries and territories around the world. The World Network from Infonet is accessible terrestrially or via satellite worldwide. Infonet trades publicly on the New York and Frankfurt stock exchanges under the ticker symbol IN. News and information are available at www.infonet.com.

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 other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.