Ascend's IP Navigator Adds Virtual Private Routing to Service Provider Networks
Business Wire - May 04, 1998 08:46
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 1998--
Allows Service Providers to Deliver Service Level Agreements for IP Services While Maintaining the Security and IP
Addressing of Private Networks
Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND) today announced Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routing, a new
capability for its IP Navigator software. VPN Routing, an industry first, enables service providers to deliver
SLA-specified IP services to their enterprise customers. Service providers can now access a rapidly expanding
market for these types of services. Now, enterprise customers can build their internal IP network across a public
service provider network while maintaining the same IP addressing space, security, and Quality of Service (QoS) of
their private network.
IP Navigator with VPN Routing is a key element in Ascend's MultiVPN(TM) (virtual private network) strategy
designed to advance the VPN market by addressing the concerns of both service providers and enterprise
subscribers. Announced today, MultiVPN enables the utilization of the public network infrastructure for private
enterprise communications with management capabilities, assured levels of service and availability, and unparalleled
compatibility and security through a provider/subscriber architecture.
IP Navigator with VPN Routing is the latest in a series of enhancements to IP Navigator, an IP routing capability
based upon the emerging Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) standard within the Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF). VPN Routing works in conjunction with the recently introduced "Absolute" Quality of Service (QoS)
capability to let service providers create IP VPNs with the same level of quality previously only associated with
private networks.
The acceptance of IP as a dominant networking protocol and the move away from private WANs has created a
demand for managed IP WAN services. To date, service providers have had no way to deliver the quality that their
enterprise customers need. According to recent research conducted by Tom Nolle, President of CIMI Corp, Service
Level Agreement specified IP VPN services will be a $10 billion market by the year 2000, and a $90 billion market by
the year 2010.
"VPNs are the largest revenue opportunity in carrier history, and the most important issue in realizing that revenue is
quality of service for IP," said Nolle. "The industry initiative represented by MPLS is likely to be a foundation for most
of the new VPN services in the future. Ascend's IP Navigator was the very first product to support an MPLS
architecture, and it is the best product available today for the melding of IP services and ATM network versatility and
efficiency."
"Frontier sees considerable opportunity for IP VPN services in addition to its existing Frame Relay, ATM, and Internet
Access service offerings," said Michael A. Coghill, Vice President of Network Operations, Frontier Corporation.
"These enhancements from Ascend will increase Frontier's ability to provide IP services from one common network
infrastructure under a unified network management system."
VPN Routing simplifies network expansion and management for enterprises. Previously, enterprise WAN expansion
typically required a network growth forecast and a capital budget justification process. VPN Routing eliminates the
need for capital budget justification because it is a monthly service expense. The service provider can deliver monthly
reports to show how it met the SLA, as well as trend analysis and forecasts of network traffic.
IP Navigator is one of the industry's first shipping implementation of the emerging MPLS standard. Ascend was a
founding member of the IETF's MPLS working group and is actively contributing towards the standard. IP Navigator
with VPN Routing incorporates MPLS concepts to enable more than 1,000 VPNs per WAN switch, and more than
10,000 VPNs in a service provider network.
"Ascend's commitment to MPLS and its key extensions for IP VPNs, QoS, and bandwidth-management capabilities
enables service providers running IP Navigator to offer services with bandwidth and delay requirements," said Prabhu
Kavi, IP business marketing manager at Ascend. "These capabilities set the stage for mission-critical applications
delivered over the public network."
IP Navigator with the new VPN Routing enhancement will be available in August, at no additional charge. IP
Navigator costs $15,000 per switch.
About Ascend Communications, Inc.
Ascend Communications, Inc. develops, manufactures, sells and services wide area networking solutions for
telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and corporate customers worldwide.
Press and Industry analysts, please contact Julie Asher, Alexander Communications, 404/897-2300,
jasher@alexandercom.com. Investors and financial analysts, please contact Kristina Graziano, 510/747-2345,
kristina.graziano@ascend.com. For all other inquiries please call toll-free: 800/ASCEND4.
For more information about Ascend and its products, please visit the Ascend web site at www.ascend.com, or send
e-mail to info@ascend.com. Ascend is headquartered at One Ascend Plaza, 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda,
Calif. 94502; phone is 800/ASCEND4 and fax is 510/814-2300.
The foregoing statements may contain forward looking statements that are based on current expectations and involve
risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from these expectations as a result of factors including,
but not limited to, the Company's success in developing, introducing or shipping new products, competition, the mix of
distribution channels employed, the Company's dependence on single or limited source suppliers for certain
components used in its products, risks inherent in international sales, seasonality and general economic conditions.
These and other factors are discussed in Ascend's 10-K, 10-Q and other filings made periodically with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. |
