TEL-ENERGO S.A. Selects Cisco 12400 Internet Routers for Exclusive 10 Gigabit IP Backbone Deployment.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 2001

State-of-the-art IP Network Based on Cisco MPLS Technology Enables

TEL-ENERGO S.A. to Offer New Corporate Services in the Polish Market

Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced that Telekomunikacja Energetyczna TEL-ENERGO S.A. will build and deploy a countrywide Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) backbone network in Poland based on Cisco 12000 Series Internet Routers.

The Cisco 12400 Internet Routers will allow TEL-ENERGO S.A. to build a robust network with 10 gigabit-per-second (Gbps) core optical connections, providing the bandwidth necessary for next-generation IP services such as MPLS-based VPNs, IP QoS, and Voice over IP (VoIP). The high scalability and rich features of the Cisco 12410 Internet Router also position TEL-ENERGO S.A. to continue to enhance its network over time based on the inherent investment protection built into the 12000 Series Internet Routers. With Cisco MPLS VPNs, service providers such as TEL-ENERGO S.A. gain competitive advantage through the ability to provision new services quickly.

The new IP network based on Cisco's MPLS technology in Cisco IOS(R) Software will offer not only the highest data transmission speeds but also guaranteed priority packet delivery for real-time voice and video. TEL-ENERGO will be able to offer new corporate services in the Polish market such as dedicated IP virtual private networks (IP VPN) and dial-up virtual private networks with different levels of Quality of Service (QoS). These features will enable enhanced services for critical applications such as corporate management systems and will make it possible to introduce new applications such as distance learning, IP telephony, video on demand, and IP video calls.

"In choosing the technology provider, we paid close attention to the scope of services, reliability of equipment, lower network operating costs, and also the scalability that will facilitate our future development. Cisco Systems was the only vendor offering a solution that met this very challenging set of requirements," said Krzysztof Homenda, TEL-ENERGO S.A. Deputy Chairman. "The launch of our modern IP network will make it possible to significantly expand TEL-ENERGO's service offerings, which means that the fibre Telecommunications Network of the Power Sector will be used more efficiently to allow customers to take advantage of business-enabling services such as voice over IP and video on demand."

"Increasingly, IP networks are being used to implement business procedures for contracts with customers, partners, suppliers, and employees. State-of-the-art MPLS-based networks make it possible to introduce Business-class Internet services that guarantee high quality, reliability, and security," said Todd Abbott, Group Vice President, Cisco Systems EMEA. "Cisco is active in building IP and MPLS networks all over the world. By working closely with service providers like TEL-ENERGO, we not only help them design the best state-of-the-art network, but also help them accelerate the delivery of high-bandwidth, high-value services that service providers require to attract and retain customers and drive towards new levels of profitability."

"The construction of the IP network marks a new stage in the development of TEL-ENERGO," said Jerzy Urbanowicz, TEL-ENERGO S.A. Chairman. "The launch of these services will respond to the growing market demand, especially on the part of corporate customers. The new services will enable companies to introduce safe intranets and extranets that will facilitate co-operation with their staff working outside the company premises. The launch of the MPLS VPN services will revolutionize the Polish market of network services and our Cisco network infrastructure will make it possible to offer stringent Service Level Agreements (SLA) to customers."

The Cisco 12000 Series Internet Router is part of Cisco's family of multimillion packets-per-second (pps) Internet routing platforms for creating full service networks. The Cisco 12000 Series is the premier routing platform for service provider backbone and high-speed edge applications and enables service providers to meet the challenge of building IP networks to satisfy customer demands while increasing profitability. The Cisco 12400 Series offers the only portfolio 10Gbps OC-192/SATM-64 systems and delivers the capacity, performance, service enablers, and operational efficiencies to build the most competitive IP networks. With its unique, modular distributed system architecture, the Cisco 12000 Series leads the industry with the only proven investment protection, the highest backbone and edge performance, and the only guaranteed priority packet delivery.

About Tel-Energo

TEL-ENERGO SA is the operator of the Polish nation-wide fiber optical network of the power industry. It manages a state-of-the-art network of total length over 11500 kilometers.

About Cisco Systems

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

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