WMB tie-in to today's CSCO/USW announcement:
DENVER, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- U S WEST Communications(R) (NYSE: USW)
today announced strategic relationships with Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) and
Intermedia Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: ICIX) to complete its next-generation
national data network. U S WEST is the first Bell Operating Company (BOC) to
form such a nationwide network alliance, which will enable it to sell its data
networking services throughout the United States.
As part of U S WEST and Cisco's relationship, Cisco will provide advanced
switching and other capabilities to power U S WEST's next-generation national
network infrastructure. The two companies will also jointly develop new
network-enabled services such as Internet Protocol (IP) telephony, fax and
multimedia applications for a range of national business customers.
U S WEST currently offers a full range of data services in 21 markets
outside its region. Its partnership with Intermedia gives U S WEST additional
national reach for its data-networking and Internet services through
Intermedia's 142 data switches and more than 385 network-to-network interfaces
(NNIs).
The Cisco and Intermedia relationships complement a strategic alliance
announced three weeks ago by U S WEST and Williams Communications, one which
provides access to more than 18,000 miles of Williams' fiber-optic backbone
architecture to support U S WEST's data-networking and long distance voice
needs outside its 14-state region. Intermedia and Williams also recently
announced a major capacity purchase of Williams' network capacity by
Intermedia, making it one of Williams' largest customers. As the first BOC to
form such nationwide network alliances, U S WEST gives its customers the
opportunity to work with a single communications company for all their data
needs.
"Customer demand for better Internet and data communications is growing
exponentially. U S WEST's next-generation network will play a key role in
meeting those needs nationwide," said Solomon D. Trujillo, president and chief
executive officer of U S WEST Communications. "The data revolution is
transforming the way we lead our lives and conduct our business. We are
ensuring that customers can make the most of this revolution by offering the
kind of fully integrated and customized solutions that will help their
businesses succeed and make their lives better."
These key partnering agreements with Cisco, Intermedia and Williams
enables U S WEST to expand its data-networking and IP-based services to
customers coast-to-coast.
"Our business customers are looking to U S WEST to provide national-data
networking capabilities and integrated, customized solutions including Frame
Relay, ATM and IP services," said Joe Zell, president of U S WEST !NTERPRISE
Networking. "Our partnerships with Cisco, Intermedia and Williams give us the
national reach our customers need and improve our value proposition and
quality service offerings."
Cisco and U S WEST
U S WEST's relationship with Cisco will allow it to create a multi-service
network infrastructure for the delivery of new services based on its next-
generation IP carrier capabilities. U S WEST will rapidly expand its Cisco
Powered Network outside its 14-state region. This expansion will give U S
WEST business customers national Frame Relay Service, Asynchronous Transfer
Mode (ATM) service, LAN Switching Service, Managed Data Services and Internet-
based services.
"Next-generation networks like U S WEST's will help enable the Internet
Generation of applications and services," said John Chambers, president and
chief executive officer of Cisco Systems. "Cisco is pleased to be working
with U S WEST to bring these advanced services to market."
In addition to Internet-based, user-driven services like Remote Intranet
Access, Lotus applications and E-commerce solutions currently available to its
business customers, U S WEST and Cisco will jointly develop new services
including IP telephony, fax and video applications; network publishing;
service delivery integration; and Multilink Frame Relay.
Intermedia Communications and U S WEST
Effective immediately, this preferred provider relationship with
Intermedia gives U S WEST's data-networking and Internet services a nationwide
reach. This relationship offers U S WEST customers a one-stop shop for end-
to-end data and Internet services, both inside and outside its 14-state
region. Once regulatory relief is granted under Section 271 of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, U S WEST will have the ability to offer its
own in-region inter-LATA services in concert with existing U S WEST and
Intermedia nationwide data capabilities.
"We are pleased to enter into this relationship with U S WEST," commented
David C. Ruberg, Intermedia's chairman, president, and chief executive
officer. "U S WEST is well positioned to bring the data network and Internet
access customers in its territory to the Intermedia network, taking advantage
of our densely populated US coverage and industry leading service offerings of
Frame Relay, Internet and ViewSPAN."
Williams Communications and U S WEST
As announced January 5, U S WEST and Intermedia became Williams
Communications' "anchor tenants" by purchasing dedicated bandwidth over
Williams' nationwide, next-generation fiber-optic backbone network. Williams'
network will provide U S WEST with access to approximately 11,000 fiber-optic
miles across the United States (extending to more than 18,000 miles by the end
of 1998), which allows U S WEST to better serve customers in markets across
the country.
The Williams partnership is another important step in U S WEST's
successful regional and national data-centric communications strategy and
helps position the company's impending entry into the inter-state and regional
long-distance market.
About Cisco
Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking
for the Internet. News and information are available at cisco.com.
About Intermedia
Intermedia Communications is one of the nation's fastest growing
telecommunications companies, providing integrated telecommunications
solutions to business and government customers. These solutions include voice
and data, local and long distance, and advanced network access services in
major US markets. Intermedia's enhanced data portfolio, including frame relay
networking, ATM, and a full range of business Internet services, offers
seamless end-to-end service virtually anywhere in the world. DIGEX, one of
Intermedia's companies, is a first-tier national Internet carrier providing
connectivity and complex web site management services to business customers.
News and product/service information about DIGEX is available at
digex.net.
Intermedia is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with sales offices in more
than 40 cities. Intermedia can be found on the World Wide Web at
intermedia.com.
About Williams
Williams, through its subsidiaries, is the nation's largest-volume
transporter of natural gas and provides a full range of traditional leading-
edge energy and communications services. Its communications enterprises
include nationwide single-source business communications systems integration;
international video satellite and fiber-optic transmission, multipoint video-
and audio-conferencing; satellite business applications; enhanced fax
services; interactive technical training, on-demand distance learning and
Internet and telemarketing services. Company information is available at
twc.com and wilcom.com.
About U S WEST Communications
U S WEST Communications (NYSE: USW) provides a full range of
telecommunications services -- including wireline, wireless PCS and data
networking -- to more than 25 million customers in 14 western and midwestern
states. The company is one of two major groups that make up U S WEST, a
company in the connections business, helping customers share information,
entertainment and communications services in local markets worldwide. U S
WEST's other major group, MediaOne Group, is involved in domestic and
international cable and telephone, wireless communications, and directory and
information services. U S WEST has proposed splitting the two groups into
separate public companies sometime after mid-1998, pending shareowner and
other approvals.
U S WEST !NTERPRISE is the data-networking arm of U S WEST Communications,
providing data-communications services nationally since 1995. U S WEST
Communications, Inc. can be found on the Internet at uswest.com.
SOURCE U S WEST Communications
CO: U S WEST Communications; Cisco Systems; Intermedia Communications Inc.;
Williams Communications
ST: Colorado, Florida
IN: CPR MLM
SU:
01/28/98 11:34 EST prnewswire.com
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