Press Releases
CATCH Implements Europe's First Nationwide VPLS Network with Juniper Networks M-Series Platforms
Norwegian ISP Converges IP and Ethernet Services on Single IP/MPLS Infrastructure
SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 12, 2004 - Juniper Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR) today announced that CATCH, a leading ISP in Norway, has deployed Juniper Networks M-series multiservice edge platforms for the roll out of Europe's first nationwide Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) over an IP/MPLS network. CATCH has deployed a variety of M-series routers in the major cities in Norway in addition to Copenhagen and Stockholm.
The deployment of innovative VPLS over a high performance, secure and reliable IP/MPLS infrastructure will offer a unique service to its customers, showcasing the CATCH network as a true Next Generation Network. Now its customers can be located in different metropolitan areas and receive multipoint-to-multipoint Ethernet WAN connectivity between all sites. By deploying VPLS on a common IP/MPLS infrastructure CATCH optimizes capital expenditures and reduces operational costs. In addition, by deploying standards-based VPLS that uses BGP for signaling and control, CATCH realizes dramatic operational savings due to autodiscovery and inter-AS capabilities uniquely available with the IETF draft-ietf-l2vpn-vpls-bgp-01.txt standard.
"The move to a fully consolidated IP/MPLS network as the foundation for the delivery of enhanced IP and multipoint Ethernet services is a key part of our network evolution strategy. This design enables us to protect and build on our existing investments in the Ethernet DSL technology and strengthen the ability to deploy high-speed access and revenue-generating services to businesses, public sector and professional users in the Nordic countries. Juniper Networks technology is at the heart of this evolution strategy," says Aage Blankvoll, chief technical officer at CATCH Communications.
"CATCH is using the latest developments in IP networking to reduce operational costs and protect existing investments. CATCH is clearly demonstrating a progressive strategy by being one of the first ISPs to deploy VPLS in a production network", said Alan Taylor, vice president of Technology at Juniper Networks EMEA.
IPnett AS, Juniper Networks' local partner in Norway, has contributed significantly throughout the entire deployment process with extensive expertise and on-site maintenance services support.
"We are very pleased that CATCH has selected IPnett and Juniper Networks to upgrade and build out its next generation IP network, a network designed to deliver the most advanced applications to the most demanding users," said Erlend Bonesvoll, Sales Manager at IPnett AS.
VPLS explained
VPLS delivers a multipoint-to-multipoint Ethernet service that can span one or more metro areas and that provides connectivity between multiple sites as if these sites were attached to the same Ethernet LAN. Today there are typically two basic Ethernet offerings that are available from service providers. The first is a multipoint-to-multipoint offering delivered via an infrastructure of Ethernet switches and therefore limited to a single metro due to spanning tree scaling limitations. The second is a point-to-point Ethernet private line service available within or across metros. VPLS uses of IP/MPLS routing protocols and procedures instead of the Spanning Tree Protocol and MPLS labels instead of VLAN IDs within the service provider infrastructure, resulting in significant improvements in the scalability and the ability to deliver multipoint-to-multipoint Ethernet service across multiple metro areas.
About Juniper Networks
Juniper Networks transforms the business of networking by creating competitive advantage for our customers with superior networking and security solutions. Juniper Networks is dedicated to customers who derive strategic value from their networks, including global network operators, enterprises, government agencies and research and educational institutions. Juniper Networks' portfolio of networking and security solutions supports the complex scale, security and performance requirements of the world's most demanding mission critical networks. Additional information can be found at www.juniper.net.
Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, NetScreen, NetScreen Technologies, the NetScreen logo, NetScreen-Global Pro, ScreenOS, and GigaScreen are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
M-series is a trademark of Juniper Networks, Inc.
About Catch Communications
Catch is the innovative challenger and the leading independent data communication and Internet service providers in Norway, specifically targeting the communication needs of businesses, public sector and professional users based on its own modern DSL network infrastructure. Catch offers a broad range of scalable and flexible services based on its Nordic Ethernet network. Catch utilizes a powerful combination of DSL broadband access technology and high capacity SDH and optical fiber to provide broadband services ranging from 144 Kbps to 1Gbps. Additional information can be found at www.catchcom.com
CATCH and CATCH Communications are registered at trademarks of Catch Communications ASA. The company is listed on the Oslo stock Exchange with the ticker CATCH.
