SAN JOSE, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- November 14, 2006 -- Cisco® (
NASDAQ:
CSCO) today announced Cisco
ServiceMesh, the industry's first integrated, end-to-end outdoor wireless
solution designed for service providers who are deploying citywide
municipal Wi-Fi networks. Building on the Cisco Internet Protocol
Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture, the Cisco ServiceMesh design
is a fully integrated outdoor wireless solution that enables service
providers to quickly deploy a variety of value-added, revenue-generating
services via a single network infrastructure. By using ServiceMesh, service
providers of all types and sizes can bring "The Connected Life" to
subscribers by providing the content that they want at home, at work or on
the move.
Cisco's new ServiceMesh is a comprehensive wireless broadband system that
combines Aironet® 1500 Series Lightweight Outdoor Mesh Access Points
(APs), Wireless Services Modules (WiSM) and Cisco Wireless Control System
software (WCS) with the Cisco Intelligent Services Gateway (ISG), the Cisco
Service Control Engine (SCE), and the Cisco Carrier Routing System (CRS-1).
This combination makes possible multiple applications, including those for
police, fire and emergency services, as well as those for city operations,
such as remote access to city applications, automated meter reading, and
permits verification and compliance.
"Cities everywhere are recognizing the numerous benefits of municipal Wi-Fi
that go beyond simple Internet access," said Roberta Wiggins, research
fellow with the Yankee Group. "These metro wireless networks can streamline
city operations, attract new businesses and citizens to a city, and enable
cost-effective applications that improve productivity and reduce costs.
The catch is finding an integrated solution that is easy to deploy and
manage, utilizes a flexible, open standards-based architecture and enables
multiple services and revenue streams to be deployed on a single
architecture. Cisco's ServiceMesh is designed to give service providers
end-to-end support in meeting the various needs of municipalities -- and
their users."
According to the Wireless Internet Institute (W2i), more than 1,000 local
governments around the globe plan to deploy metro-scale wireless networks.
Service providers can address this opportunity by helping municipalities
deploy wireless broadband networks based on mesh technology, but they need
manageable, easy-to-deploy, outdoor wireless mesh solutions that can speed
their time to market, while keeping operational costs to a minimum.
Cisco ServiceMesh Solution is a validated and proven solution for
delivering pervasive wireless access and network services required for
these municipal networks. The network convergence layer of the Cisco IP NGN
architecture enables convergence of disparate, service-specific networks to
a single, more efficient and flexible IP/Multiprotocol Label Switching
(MPLS)-based infrastructure. With the Cisco IP NGN, providers can deliver
services more efficiently and effectively and provide the means to support
tomorrow's bandwidth-intensive residential and business services.
Cisco ServiceMesh -- Bringing Benefits to Cities and Service Providers
Alike
The unique design of Cisco ServiceMesh lets service providers rapidly
deploy and monetize value-added services for cities. In turn, these cities
can improve productivity and economic growth, while streamlining their
operations with the wide variety of applications enabled by new, municipal
Wi-Fi networks.
Key benefits of these networks include:
-- Manageability: With a single management framework that covers access
points to application, ServiceMesh lets service provider quickly set up
municipal Wi-Fi networks that incorporate thousands of devices and meet the
needs of millions of users. Self-configuring access points with centralized
management speed deployment time and simplify management, lowering
operational expenditures.
-- Scalability: ServiceMesh allows providers and the cities they serve to
scale their networks, as the number of users increases.
-- Flexibility: The same, flexible, open-standards based architecture of
ServiceMesh can be used to deliver multiple services and, therefore,
multiple revenue streams.
"Cisco ServiceMesh is the clear choice that unifies access, planning tools,
subscriber management, OSS support, mobility VPN services, bandwidth
management, subscriber devices, network infrastructure and other
applications under one comprehensive umbrella," said Stu Wilson, vice
president of Atria Networks. "To provide high-quality citywide mesh
services, a city needs a complete solution -- not just access points
cobbled together. With a complete solution from Cisco, interoperability and
other technical issues evaporate, giving cities a reliable and trustworthy
network for their constituents."
Cisco ServiceMesh -- Enabling Wireless as a City Utility
With the right solution, cities can quickly begin relying on their
municipal wireless networks as they would any other city utility. The
numerous applications made possible by these networks can help cities to
bridge digital divides, attract new business and improve economic growth,
and streamline internal operations to improve city employees' productivity
and reduce costs. Some of the applications enabled by Cisco's ServiceMesh
include:
-- Internet service and private-label indoor Internet: Cities can manage
Internet service directly to business and residents or can wholesale to
multiple Internet service providers or other businesses, such as hotels.
-- Municipality services: Cities can establish Virtual Private Networks
(VPNs) to allow remote workers to access the network and a variety of
applications from any location.
-- Public safety: Police, fire and other emergency services workers can
use Voice over IP, remote video capture and other applications.
-- City operations and infrastructure: New applications like Automatic
Meter Reading can simplify operations and reduce costs.
"Service providers are one of the keys to unlocking the burgeoning outdoor
wireless market," said Alan Cohen, senior director of mobility solutions,
Cisco. "With Cisco ServiceMesh, cities can confidently turn to their local
service providers to deploy a comprehensive solution that provides
unparalleled reliability, scalability and proven performance."
More information about Cisco ServiceMesh is available at:
www.cisco.com/go/servicemesh.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco (
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how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco
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Public Information.
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