TietoEnator to Deliver Managed Data, Storage and Mainframe Connectivity Services With Cisco Multiservice Optical Networking Solution

Business Wire, March 2, 2006

HELSINKI, Finland -- Pan-nordic IT Services Organisation Deploys Cisco Data Centre Network Architecture to Virtualise Network Services

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) today announced that TietoEnator is rolling out managed multiservice optical connectivity services based on Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) using the Cisco ONS 15454 Multiservice Transport Platform (MSTP) release 7.0. TietoEnator aims to provision new high speed customer site connections much more rapidly using software and the reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexing (ROADM) capabilities of the new solution. Cisco is collaborating with IBM on deploying the new optical network infrastructure.

Initially the new optical solution will be deployed as part of an overall Cisco Data Centre Network Architecture underpinning TietoEnator's 4 data centers in Finland.

"The ability to bring new sites online for existing clients as well as add new clients onto our DWDM network without disrupting service is one of the key reasons we selected the ROADM capabilities of the Cisco ONS 15454," commented Tero Ahokas, director, Global Operations for TietoEnator. "The new 10Gbit/s Data Muxponder also helps us to aggregate data, storage and mainframe traffic from individual clients onto a single channel, which dramatically reduces the number of interface cards we need and speeds time to market."

Data center fiber optic network with ROADM functionality in Finland

Cisco Systems' ROADM technology utilizes Integrated Planar Lightwave Circuit (iPLC)-based technology to provide total wavelength Add, Drop or Pass-through flexibility at any ROADM-enabled node. TietoEnator has found that the Cisco intelligent DWDM solution will simplify network maintenance and accelerate service delivery to clients.

With the new solution, TietoEnator will also be able to collapse multiple different traffic types including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel as well as mainframe connectivity technologies (FICON, ESCON & Sysplex) onto a single 10Gbit/s wavelength. By speeding up provisioning and reducing the need for multiple spare parts, the new solution will reduce TietoEnator's operational expenditure on network maintenance.

"As organisations increasingly make core vs. context decisions, outsourcing storage management to specialist organizations is becoming an attractive model. However provisioning DWDM with traditional methods has meant a significant amount of operational delay for outsourcers who want to bring new customer sites onto their optical network," commented Phil Andrews, operations director, Data Center, for Cisco in European & Emerging Markets.

"Being able to take economic advantage of optical DWDM technology to provide managed SAN extension services with a virtualized core data center requires the ability to automate the process of extending the DWDM network, and rapidly add new services over new optical wavelengths. The Cisco ROADM solution helps provide this new flexibility and automation whilst maintaining high network availability, helping provide a major "Time to Service Availability' advantage for TietoEnator," continued Andrews.

TietoEnator has recognized that a virtualized Cisco Data Centre Network Architecture can help further reduce operational expenditure by logically partitioning multiple clients through a single converged fabric. The IT Services organisation is deploying Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Directors, and Catalyst(R) 6500 series switches together with Cisco CSS 11500 series content services switches for server load balancing within the data center environment in the Helsinki area to support this new business model.

About TietoEnator

TietoEnator is among the leading architects in building a more efficient information society and one of the largest IT services companies in Europe. TietoEnator specialises in consulting, developing and hosting its customers' business operations in the digital economy. The Group's services are based on a combination of deep industry-specific expertise and latest information technology. TietoEnator has 15 000 experts in more than 25 countries. www.tietoenator.com

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at www.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in Europe is supplied by Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.

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