Samsung Data Systems Upgrades Network Backbone with Cisco Systems; Leading Korean Systems Integrator Signs Services Contract with Networking Leader

Business Wire, April 30, 1999

SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 1999--

Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CSCO) has entered a Professional Services agreement to enhance and expand Samsung SDS' Uniway network backbone.

Samsung SDS is a leader in systems integration, systems management, and telecommunications services such as Internet, telephony, frame relay, ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), satellite, and online services (Unitel) in Korea. The agreement is one of the most significant Professional Services agreements in Asia for Cisco.

Samsung SDS is already a heavy user of Cisco networking products, having implemented an extensive array of Cisco's IPX(R), IGX(R) and BPX(R) wide-area network switches.

"Under this Professional Services agreement, Cisco will work with Samsung SDS to upgrade its network structure, building higher levels of stability and redundancy to its network infrastructure," said Dr. Sung-Won Hong, president of Cisco Systems Korea.

"Like all Professional Services programmes, Cisco has tailored the package to meet the specific needs of our customer, delivering precisely the level of service and support that Samsung requires to meet its short-, medium- and long-term goals."

As part of the agreement, Cisco will assign dedicated engineers to Samsung SDS to provide high-level strategic design support, on-site engineering, consulting and troubleshooting support.

Cisco Professional Services offer a suite of customized services for every phase of the network life cycle, from planning and design, through to implementation operation. Professional Services can help companies avoid the extra expense of hiring and training additional employees when specific projects arise. By augmenting existing staff with Cisco Professional Services, customers save enormous amounts of time and expense.

"When it comes time to adapt or expand the network to meet ever-growing demands, the company that provided the networking equipment in the first place is a logical place to go for help," said Dr. Hong.

"Cisco's Professional Services are designed to transfer knowledge and skills to customers to help optimum deployment and maintenance of customer networks."

By combining forces with its professional services partners, Cisco provides everything companies need to anticipate and manage every aspect of their networks, whether they are interested in optimizing their WAN, create a growth strategy, or develop an operational plan.

"With this new agreement, Samsung SDS can rely on the expertise and skill of our Professional Services Providers and the Cisco Professional Services team to assist in all phases of the network lifecycle from planning and design through to implementation and operation," said Dr. Hong.

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Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

Note to Editors: IPX, IGX, BPX, Cisco, Cisco IOS, 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.