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To: Jon Cave who wrote (2944)9/11/1998 8:44:00 PM
From: jach  Respond to of 12623
 
Sprint's Boost to OC-48 Raises the Bar
on Network Speeds

400 Percent Increase Gives Sprint World's Fastest Internet Backbone

Sprint Corp. Web Site
More information on the Cisco 12000 Series Routers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- August 24, 1998 -- Sprint Corp. today announced that it plans
to significantly boost the transmission speed and bandwidth of its Internet backbone to
OC-48 (2.5 gigabits per second, Gbps) the fastest type of backbone service available.

The upgrade from OC-12 (622 megabits per second) will dramatically increase Sprint's
bandwidth by more than 400 percent. One OC-48 connection could support more than
175,000 dial-up users sending and receiving files at the same time. The OC-48 route will
be deployed between Fort Worth, Texas, and Kansas City, Mo. Further installations are
planned on an ongoing basis throughout the Sprint network.

This service enhancement promises to meet consumer demands for fast, reliable
performance over the Sprint Internet backbone. With data moving at 2.5 Gbps over the
Sprint fiber optic network, business users will have reliable and higher speed connectivity
to expand their operations globally in such emerging applications as Internet commerce.

At the core of Sprint's upgrade are the deployments of Cisco Systems, Inc.'s 12000
series Gigabit Switch Routers (GSRs) and CIENA Corporation's dense wavelength
division multiplexing (DWDM) technology. Cisco and CIENA have recently combined
forces in IP over DWDM technology to develop a high-capacity optical IP backbone.
This high-speed deployment by Sprint ties Cisco 12000 series GSRs directly to
CIENA's long-haul DWDM systems to create an expanded optical layer to its all-digital,
all-fiber network. The Cisco 12000 series GSRs will interface directly into CIENA's
DWDM system interfaces at 2.5 Gbps, without the need for additional intermediate
network elements such as SONET terminal multiplexers.

"To keep pace with the rapid growth of data traffic, Sprint continues its pursuit of utilizing
and pioneering network core infrastructures specifically optimized for data," said Marty
Kaplan, Sprint's senior vice president and chief technology officer. "IP over DWDM is a
technological capability that allows Sprint to substantially increase the data load on its
existing fiber in a very efficient manner."

IP directly over DWDM fiber demonstrates Sprint's ability to blend its superior fiber and
IP network into one integrated network. In addition, IP over DWDM capability in
Sprint's core network complements its recently announced Sprint Integrated On-demand
Network (ION) that will provide broadband delivery of integrated voice, video and data.
"The integration of Sprint ION and our high-speed network will result in the delivery of a
new model of telecommunications services," added Kaplan.

The Cisco 12000 series GSRs were initially deployed by Sprint last September when it
boosted its Internet backbone speed from OC-3 to OC-12. The Cisco 12000 series
meets the exponential growth in demand for Internet bandwidth and brings scalability and
high-performance services to IP-based networks. Designed to meet current and future
Internet traffic requirements, the Cisco 12000 series laid the groundwork for a series of
new service announcements from Sprint including Web Hosting, Remote Access, and the
industry's most aggressive ISP service level agreements (SLAs).

"The business community has made the Internet its playing field for networked commerce
and virtual storefronts, creating the need for higher-bandwidth connections to the
Internet," said Graeme Fraser, vice president and general manager of Cisco's Optical
Internetworking Business Unit. "Sprint's deployment of this advanced network validates
Cisco's optical internetworking strategy, where IP is carried directly over the optical
layer to provide the most efficient and robust networking capability."

Based in Linthicum, Maryland, CIENA Corporation is a worldwide market leader of
open-architecture, dense wavelength division multiplexing systems for long-distance and
local exchange carriers. CIENA's DWDM solutions include the MultiWaver 1600 and
4000 long-haul transport systems, WaveWatcherr network management software, the
MultiWave Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer, the MultiWave SentryT enhanced
long-distance transport system and the new MultiWave FireflyT and MultiWave
MetroT short-haul systems. Through its Alta subsidiary, based in Norcross, Ga.,
CIENA provides a range of engineering, furnishing and installation services for
telecommunications service providers in the areas of transport, switching and wireless
communication.

Sprint continues its industry leadership in bringing new and enhanced services to
residential and business customers. Sprint recently was cited as first for its
industry-leading data services, strong customer service and value added perks by Data
Communications magazine. The annual survey asked corporate data users to rate long
distance carriers on network performance, customer service and value-added perks.
This year's results show that Sprint leads all competitors in the customer service arena,
while moving ahead of the competition in the value-added and technical service
categories of frame relay and Internet access.

Sprint is a global communications company - at the forefront in integrating long distance,
local and wireless communications services and the world's largest carrier of Internet
traffic. Sprint built and operates the United States' only nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic
network and is the leader in advanced data communication services. Sprint has $15
billion in annual revenues and serves more than 16 million business and residential
customers.

Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the
Internet. News and information are available at cisco.com.

For more information visit Cisco PR Contacts

# # #

Cisco, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in
the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of
their respective owners.

All contents copyright c 1992--1998 Cisco Systems Inc. Important notices.