WinStar Teams With Ascend Communications
To Expand Broadband Data Network
biz.yahoo.com
WinStar to Deploy Ascend's Industry-Leading Core ATM and Multiservice
Switching Solutions
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 1999--Supercomm, Booth no. 4121/ Ascend Communications, Inc.
(Nasdaq:ASND - news), a leader in wide area networking (WAN) and Intelligent Network (IN) solutions for
providers and users of the next-generation public network, and WinStar Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:WCII -
news) today announced an agreement for Ascend to provide data networking solutions to help expand
WinStar's rapidly-growing broadband network. The contract is valued at more than $30 million in 1999, and was
awarded through an existing Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) relationship between Ascend and Lucent
Technologies (NYSE: LU - news).
WinStar provides business customers with a wide range of data services, including dedicated and dial-up
Internet access, frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and private line transport services over an
advanced Tier-1 national backbone network. The new equipment from Ascend will add speed and capacity to
WinStar's network.
''Customer demand for fast, reliable data services is growing rapidly,'' said David Ackerman, executive vice
president of WinStar Network Services. ''With this agreement, WinStar will provide a faster, more reliable
high-capacity network to its data customers.''
Through the agreement with Lucent, Ascend will provide GX 550TM ''Smart'' Core ATM switches and CBX 500
TM Multiservice switches. In addition to Ascend equipment, Lucent Technologies NetCare® group will assist
WinStar with the deployment of the equipment and the maintenance of the network. Lucent's NetCare is a
leader in designing, building, monitoring and maintaining data, video and voice networks, as well as call
centers worldwide.
''We are thrilled that WinStar has chosen Ascend's core switching technology to expand its state-of-the-art
network,'' said David Misunas, vice president of product management and marketing, Core Switching Division,
Ascend Communications. ''Through our relationship with Lucent, which has provided a range of products and
services as part of a strategic agreement signed with WinStar last fall, we are able to deliver the industry's
leading ATM and Frame Relay switching technology.''
About WinStar Communications
WinStar Communications, Inc. is a pioneer in providing business customers with broadband communications
services, including local and long distance phone service, as well as high-speed Internet access, data and
information services. WinStar provides these Wireless FiberSM services in more than 30 U.S. markets over its
own local broadband networks, using its licenses in the 28 and 38 GHz spectrum, which are connected to the
company's nationwide fiber-optic network. In addition, the company offers Wireless Fiber services in one
market outside of the U.S. In the past year, WinStar has become one of the largest Internet companies in the
U.S. Recently, the company announced a destination Web site for businesses, Office.com(SM), a service from
WinStar. |
