Services Providers Take Advantage of Cisco Optical Networking Portfolio and Migrate to Internet Protocol and Ethernet-based Networks

Cisco multiservice optical platforms help enable Switch and Data, Norlight Telecommunications and Wisconsin Independent Network simplify services delivery

SAN JOSE, Calif., December 15, 2005 - Cisco Systems® today announced successful deployments of hardware release 5.0 for its Cisco ONS 15454 and ONS 15600 optical networking platforms at two telecommunications service and one Internet exchange providers, who are using the technology to more effectively deploy profitable services.

Recent expansions of two of its data center facilities in New York City-based “carrier hotels,” vaulted Tampa-based Switch and Data into the position of largest interconnection provider in New York City servicing enterprises, telecom carriers, content providers, Internet service providers (ISPs) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers. Switch and Data deployed the Cisco ONS 15600 Multiservice Switching Provisioning Platform (MSPP) enabling integration of its metro core and edge networks, while providing carrier-class robustness and management throughout the network.

The Cisco ONS 15600 MSPP combines the functionality of multiple Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SONET/ SDH) metro systems, including multiplexers, and digital cross-connect network elements together into one scalable, easy-to-use platform that supports all metro topologies, such as: point-to-point, linear add/drop, rings, and mesh.

“We linked our facilities to give our customers the ability to ’virtually’ cross-connect with one another as if they were co-located within the same four walls,” said Ali Marshi, CIO and vice president of engineering for Switch and Data. “In doing this, we depend a great deal on the Cisco optical networking software and hardware platforms for drop, insert, bypass and grooming capabilities for those ’virtual’ cross-connects.”

Norlight Telecommunications -- a Brookfield, Wis.-based full-service telecommunications provider of high-quality, wholesale network transport solutions -- has recently expanded its network to 4,150 miles by lighting optical fibers along a 347-mile corridor in Central and Northern Illinois, improving telecommunications access and reliability for its wholesale customers. Norlight’s infrastructure expansion took advantage of the Cisco ONS 15454 MSPP for metro service variety, flexibility and scalability, and the Cisco ONS 15454 Multiservice Transport Platform (MSTP) for intelligent dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM).

“Norlight operates an extensive network utilizing a combination of Cisco MSPP and DWDM technologies to deliver bandwidth solutions at more than 70 points-of-presence,” said Bob Rogers, Norlight senior vice president. “By using Cisco optical platforms, we have extended our reach to yet another important region so that smaller cities in Central and Northern Illinois now have access to cost-effective, protected traffic distribution.”

Wisconsin Independent Network (WIN), an Eau Claire, Wis.-based company, is using Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) technology to support video distribution over Gigabit Ethernet, as well as for a statewide network initiative. The provider implemented RPR on ML-Series cards in its Cisco ONS 15454 MSPP, greatly increasing the efficiency of services over its network.

“RPR brings a host of advantages to our organization,” said Scott Hoffman, Wisconsin Independent Network executive director. “One is the ability to ensure fullest shared utilization on a network, whereas before we had to nail up specific channels. It also offers VLAN tagging capabilities, enabling us to assign a specific QoS to a specific service. RPR brings about a new realm of capabilities over a SONET network.”

WIN has also successfully completed an upgrade of its network by installing a Cisco ONS 15454 MSTP including Cisco’s reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) platform. Cisco System’s ROADM technology utilizes international private-leased circuit (iPLC)-based technology to provide total wavelength Add, Drop or Pass-through flexibility at any ROADM-enabled node. WIN has found that the Cisco intelligent DWDM solution has simplified network maintenance and accelerated service delivery.

“We needed more network capacity to connect cities in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois as well as meet the needs of our independent telephone companies in Wisconsin,” Hoffman said. “By selecting Cisco’s optical MSPP and MSTP platforms, we have found the time to market in turning on new services has been reduced significantly resulting in increased revenues for us and our member companies.”

The Cisco optical networking portfolio is a part of Cisco’s Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN), an architecture that enables telecom services providers and internet exchanges -- such as Switch and Data, Norlight and Wisconsin Independent Network -- to migrate and deliver services to IP-based networks. By adopting Cisco IP NGN, these providers can deliver innovative new services to their end-user customers with greater velocity. Also, service providers can improve their operational and capital expenditure efficiencies while advancing the network technology and service control that they and their customers need for long-term business success.

“Telecom service and Internet exchange providers are under increasing pressure to take advantage of their existing infrastructures, yet find additional growth opportunities,” said Surya Panditi, Cisco vice president and general manager, Access/Aggregation Business Unit. “By deploying Cisco’s optical networking platforms, Switch and Data, Norlight and Wisconsin Independent Network help their customers more effectively handle the convergence of voice, video, data and mobility services.”

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