Neuf Cegetel Extends Cisco IP NGN Infrastructure to Deliver Residential and Corporate IP Services with Cisco 7600 and CRS-1 Routers

Cisco® announced today that Neuf Cegetel, one of the leading alternative operators in France, has chosen the Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture to transform its network to deliver both residential and corporate IP services over the next three years. Neuf Cegetel has continued to grow its customer base and currently serves 4 million residential customers, out of which 2.3 million are broadband customers, and connects 148,000 business clients' sites.

Neuf Cegetel's residential network comprises approximately 200 points of presence (POPs) connected to around 1,200 central offices (COs) throughout France. Neuf Cegetel is already using Cisco IP NGN 10 Gigabit Ethernet technology in the broadband aggregation network to support the delivery of residential quadruple-play services, offering Internet access, telephony, more than 200 IPTV standard-definition and high-definition channels, video on demand, and mobility over ADSL services.

Neuf Cegetel is deploying Cisco 7600 Series Routers, including the new Cisco 7603 Router as the access and aggregation platform, at its POPS and COs to take advantage of the coverage of the residential network and significantly enhance its enterprise market coverage and service portfolio. Neuf Cegetel is also deploying Cisco's flagship CRS-1 Carrier Routing System to strengthen its core network with the benefits of a future-proof, reliable and scalable solution.

"We were looking for a single access solution that would fit into the French central offices to deliver both residential and corporate services," said Pierre-Alain Allemand, general manager of the network division at Neuf Cegetel. "Cisco worked closely with us and designed a new model of the 7600 Series Routers to meet our requirements, making it possible for us to smoothly transform the Neuf Cegetel network using a technology that we already fully understand. We also very quickly identified that the CRS-1 would be one of the best solutions on the market to fit with our exponential growth."

Thierry Drilhon, managing director of Cisco France and vice president of Cisco Europe, said: "Neuf Cegetel and Cisco have shared the vision of IP Next-Generation Networks as the ideal platform for delivering a high-quality experience in entertainment and communication to customers, whether they are at work, on the move or at home. We are focused on delivering what our customers need to help them stay at the forefront of innovation, and Neuf Cegetel is recognized as an innovation leader in Europe for both residential and corporate services."

Neuf Cegetel selected the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System with 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface modules to provide the transport across the IP/MPLS core network and the DSL aggregation layer. Ethernet VPN connectivity for large businesses and service provider customers is supported on an IP/MPLS-enabled core architecture based on the Cisco IOS® MPLS virtual private LAN service (VPLS) technology.

About Neuf Cegetel
Neuf Cegetel is the leading alternative operator in France. The company operates its own national network infrastructure, comprising nearly 45,000 kilometres of optical fibres, and has invested heavily in the rollout of its DSL access network. It now has a presence in over 1,200 subscriber connection units. This means that Neuf Cegetel is in a position to produce its own broadband services, control their costs and quality and sell them directly to 70% of the target population. Neuf Cegetel has a presence in all market segments, providing a wide range of innovative services to residential customers (more than 4 million, including 2.3 million broadband customers) and to enterprises (148,000 corporate sites connected), while 200 telecommunications and internet service providers benefit from its wholesale services. Neuf Cegetel, whose two key shareholders are Louis Dreyfus and SFR, reported revenues of 2,897 million euros in 2006.
www.groupeneufcegetel.fr

About Cisco Systems
Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Cisco news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in Europe is supplied by Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.