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Ascend Communications Announced First Multiservice ATM Backbone Switch to Support ATM, Frame Relay and IP Services
Business Wire - October 06, 1997 08:14
%ASCEND-COMMUNICATIONS ASND %GEORGIA %CALIFORNIA %COMPUTERS %ELECTRONICS %COMED %TELECOMMUNICATIONS %INTERACTIVE %MULTIMEDIA %INTERNET %PRODUCT %TRADESHOW V%BW P%BW
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 1997--
Delivers End-to-End QoS Across the Network, Plus The Industry's Highest Density For High-Speed Frame Relay and IP Services In A Single Platform
Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND) today announced two new hardware modules for the CBX 500 ATM Switch that makes it the only carrier-class switch to deliver true multiservice capabilities, with ATM, Frame Relay and IP support in a single platform. For the first time, service providers can achieve tremendous cost-savings and service flexibility by consolidating all of their services on one platform. With this announcement, the CBX 500 becomes the first multiservice switch to offer end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) across Frame Relay, IP and ATM services, allowing service providers to support a multiservice, multiuser network. (Editor's note: Please visit Ascend Communications at NetWorld+Interop, booth No. 4451).
The enhanced CBX 500 is part of Ascend's end-to-end solution for the New Public Network, the infrastructure service providers are building to provide more sophisticated, high-volume data services to customers. Progressive service providers are beginning to implement this new infrastructure, using next-generation data networking equipment from companies like Ascend. The CBX 500 is the perfect adjunct to the high-speed switches at the core of these new networks, such as the Ascend GX 550 ATM "Smart Core" Switch, also announced today.
"With the prevalence of IP in today's environment, multiservice capability must not only include Frame Relay and ATM, but must also include IP," Jeff Kiel, Ascend senior manager, product marketing, Core Switching Division. "Ascend is now the industry's only vendor to offer true multiservice support with leading density and end-to-end QoS."
The Highest-density DS3/E3 Solution
One of the two new modules being announced today for the CBX 500 is the high-density six-port DS3/E3 module, for Frame Relay and IP Services. Using the modular 14-slot CBX 500 platform, service providers can support an unprecedented 84 DS3/E3 Frame Relay and IP ports in a single platform. For added flexibility, service providers can software-configure each port for either Frame Relay services, IP services, or both. This enables service providers to use the CBX 500 more flexibly in response to changing customer requirements without investing in new hardware.
Integrating Local High-speed Traffic
The second module announced today for the CBX 500 is a four-port 100 Mbps Ethernet module. For the first time, service providers can provide backbone support plus local high-speed Ethernet connections on a single platform. By directly interfacing their ATM backbone to IP-based file servers, service providers eliminate the need for two separate pieces of equipment and two separate management systems.
Higher Speed Access with End-to-End Quality of Service
The new modules can support up to 250,000 IP routes (for comparison, today's Internet contains approximately 45,000 routes); providing more than enough capacity to support future Internet/intranet growth and provide long-term investment protection for the service provider. Packet processing for both Frame Relay and IP of nine million packets per second delivers high performance services.
"The addition of high-speed Frame Relay and IP support on the CBX 500 switches is an example of Ascend's ability to deliver products that enable providers such as GTE to aggressively compete in the data services market. With IP support on the new Ethernet and DS3 modules for the CBX we can quickly roll out new services from a single platform, including IP, Frame Relay and ATM," says Joe Lardieri, ATM product manager, GTE Network Services.
Both modules support Ascend's IP Navigator (for IP QoS) and Priority Frame (for Frame Relay QoS), enabling service providers to create multiple tiers of services. Along with all Ascend products, the CBX 500 is managed under the unified Navis family of network management products, providing both platform and service management.
"Ascend is leveraging its worldwide market leadership position in Frame Relay to bring true multiservice capability to the CBX 500," said Dan Smith, Ascend's executive vice president and general manager, Core Switching Division. "This will enable service providers to meet the growing demand for Frame and IP services while leveraging their investment in a high-speed ATM network."
Pricing and Availability
The six-port DS3/E3 Frame Module is $10,000 per port. The four-port 100 Mbps Ethernet Module is $12,500 per port. Both modules are US list priced and will be available in North America Q1, 1998.
Ascend Communications, Inc.
Ascend Communications develops, manufactures and sells wide area networking solutions for telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and corporate customers worldwide. For more information about Ascend and its products, please visit the Ascend web site at ascend.com, or e-mail info@ascend.com. Ascend is headquartered at One Ascend Plaza, 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, CA 94502. Phone: 800/ASCEND4; Fax: 510/814-2300.
CONTACT: Ascend Communications, Inc.
Lucia Graziano, 508/952-1291
lucia.graziano@ascend.com
or
Gallagher PR
Jeannette Bitz, 510/747-2058
jbitz@ascend.com
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