OT, But of interest: Cerent Named 'Investors' Choice' At TechnologicPartners' Network Outlook Conference
March 22, 1999 10:08 AM
PETALUMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 1999--Cerent Corporation, the company supercharging SONET transport networks, today announced that it received an "Investors' Choice" award at the seventh annual Technologic Partners' Network Outlook conference held earlier this month. The top ten companies developing networking and communications products were chosen as "most likely to succeed" from a list of 87 privately financed technology companies that presented their business plans to an audience of several hundred venture capitalists, money managers, investment bankers and industry executives. The award was the result of conference attendee balloting.
"I see Cerent as an important link between the worlds of data and telephony, a step towards real convergence," said Richard Shaffer, editor, publisher of both ComputerLetter and VentureFinance, and principal analyst of Technologic Partners. "The market has a clear need for a bandwidth optimizing product that can solve transport bandwidth problems now, as well as prepare customers for the future. Cerent is in a position to make a unique contribution to the networking industry."
The Cerent 454 incorporates advanced optical and data networking features that have resulted in an unprecedented multi-service platform with the smallest footprint in the industry. This allows competitive service providers to provision a SONET network in minutes at half the cost of traditional SONET gear, delivering next generation network economics today.
"This is a real vote of confidence from the technology and investment community for Cerent's technological innovation and leadership," said Carl Russo, CEO of Cerent. "We're working hard to respond to what our customers really want in the transport space, and helping them to build the networks of the future right now." Russo added that the Cerent 454 has been generally available since December of 1998. To date, over 40 service providers throughout North America have purchased the system.
About Cerent Corporation
Located in Petaluma, California, Cerent Corporation is the revolutionary network element delivering innovative SONET solutions today. The company comprises a uniquely blended culture of telecom and datacom expertise. Its flagship product, the Cerent 454, is the industry's first multi-service SONET/SDH platform that supports any network traffic type over any optical bit rate at 50 percent lower cost than existing solutions. Cerent customers are service providers (such as ILECs, CLECs, IXCs, Cable TV providers) who need a simple, scaleable and efficient system that fits today's SONET infrastructure, solves the transport bottleneck and is flexible enough to help them evolve to next-generation optical networks. The company's investors include Cisco Systems CSCO , Advanced Fibre Communications AFCI , Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers, Integral Capital Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, Telesoft Partners and Arete Ventures. Information about Cerent can be found at: cerent.com. |
