Ericsson Provides IP Backbone to International Operator Telia Throughout USA and Europe

Ericsson Provides IP Backbone to International Operator Telia Throughout USA and Europe

Ericsson has announced a breakthrough on the IP backbone market by signing two contracts to provide its comprehensive Packet Backbone Network, which includes Juniper Networks leading IP backbone technology, to global customer Telia International Carrier. This enables Telia IC to offer IP backbone traffic with even higher bandwidth and quality of service.

Ericsson has signed one contract with Telia International Carrier to expand its intercontinental IP backbone network. Ericsson will deliver and install more than 25 of its AXI 580 IP Backbone Routers (Juniper Networks M160) throughout the USA and Europe. The contract also includes a service support package and a partnership for the development of IP Services. The first routers in New York and Copenhagen will be in service by March 2001.

At the same time, Ericsson and Telia Internet Inc, a wholly owned US-based subsidiary of global operator Telia International Carrier, announced that Telia Internet will expand its existing national backbone infrastructure with more than 20 of Ericsson's AXI 520-4 IP Backbone Routers (Juniper Networks M20) throughout the United States. Telia Internet will also deploy Ericsson's Multiservice Management Suite applications, Network Resource Manager and Service Level Manager, which will be used for configuration and fault management of the carrier's IP backbone network.

Ericsson's large-scale AXI 580 and AXI 520-4 IP Backbone routers will allow both Telia International Carrier and Telia Internet to significantly increase the bandwidth (up to 10 Gbit/s) of their backbone networks and to provide IP backbone capacity and transport services to their carrier, ISP and enterprise customers. By deploying Ericsson's Packet Backbone Network, Telia is prepared for the continued rapid growth of Internet traffic and new demands for Quality of Service. This will be further enhanced by the data requirements in the 3G networks.

"One of Telia International Carrier's goals is to become the third largest carrier in Europe, and the largest non-US carrier for the US market by 2003," said Lars Rydin, CEO, Telia International Carrier. "To succeed, we must be able to offer our customers the best possible quality at the lowest possible cost. This enables us to offer IP backbone traffic to our customers in the US and Europe with even higher quality and bandwidth."

Telia and Ericsson, together with Juniper Networks, have also signed a partnership agreement for the development of innovative and advanced IP services geared towards the international wholesale, resale, and retail markets in Europe and USA.

Ericsson's family of AXI IP Backbone routers are based on Juniper Networks leading IP knowledge and technology. Ericsson adds extensive carrier-class management capabilities to the platforms with its Multiservice Management Suite, as well as global integration and support services. This combination of Ericsson and Juniper Networks best-in-class technology and expertise will allow Telia to quickly and reliably roll out and manage new and expanded services over their new, nationwide IP backbone network.

"We are very pleased that Telia has chosen to expand our long-standing relationship by deploying our Packet Backbone Network on such a large scale throughout their USA and European networks. This agreement highlights the trend of the world's leading global supercarriers, like Telia, repeatedly partnering with trusted vendors who can provide end-to-end telecom and datacom solutions along with extensive global and local services," said Mike Thurk, executive vice president of Ericsson's Data Backbone and Optical Networks division. "We are confident that Ericsson's scalable, carrier-class Packet Backbone Network will quickly and easily accommodate the needs of Telia International Carrier's growing global customer base."

Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in mobility and Internet in creating the new era of Mobile Internet. Ericsson provides total solutions covering everything from systems and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over the world.

Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/pressroom/.

About Telia International Carrier

Telia's wholly owned subsidiary, Telia International Carrier, provides IP Capacity, Voice and Infrastructure services. Today, the company is the leading European carrier of transatlantic IP traffic to the USA.

About Ericsson's Packet Backbone Network

Ericsson's Packet Backbone Network (PBN) is an Internet-class, carrier-class data backbone and a key component to both wireless and wireline operators' transitions to next generation networks. PBN enables operators to offer new or expanded services over an IP infrastructure in an extremely reliable and ultra-scalable configuration. PBN is based on the following hardware platforms from Ericsson: the AXI 580 and AXI 520 IP Backbone Routers*, AXI 540 Edge Aggregation Router and AXD 301 High-Performance ATM Switch. PBN includes a Multiservice Management Suite (MMS) of products that includes in-house developed tools optimized for next generation networks and tools from best-in-class partners to address management issues in four key areas: network provisioning, service provisioning, service and network assurance, customer care and billing. PBN also employs Ericsson's innovative range of robust DWDM optical networking products: ERIcsson Optical Networking (ERION).

*Ericsson's AXI 580 and AXI 520 IP Backbone Routers are based on Juniper Networks M160 and M20 routers, respectively, with integrated management capabilities from Ericsson's Multiservice Management Suite.

About Juniper Networks, Inc.

Juniper Networks, Inc. is a leading provider of purpose-built systems that meet the scalability, performance, density, and compatibility requirements of rapidly evolving, optically enabled IP networks. These systems provide new IP infrastructure solutions for the world's leading service providers. Juniper Networks service and manufacturing teams and IP engineers work closely with customers to build and support customer networks. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, please visit our Web site at http://www.juniper.net.

Juniper Networks is a registered trademark of Juniper Networks, Inc. M20 and M160 are trademarks of Juniper Networks Inc. All other trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, or registered service marks may be the property of their respective owners.