13th Feb 2007 08:45
Cisco Systems INC (IRS)13 February 2007 MTN Addresses Customer Demand for Mobile Services by Upgrading Network to HelpDeliver Voice, Data and Video With Mobility MTN Selects Cisco to Support 'Quad-Play' Services Over a Single ConvergedNetwork and Help Provide Business and Social Benefits in South Africa BARCELONA, SPAIN and JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 13,2007 -- 3GSM -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced that it has been workingwith MTN to address the needs of more than 33 million South African subscribersand their demands for sophisticated mobile services and applications. Thisincludes delivering advanced multimedia mobile services, such as mobile TV, toimprove customer satisfaction and experience. Cisco has worked with MTN, helpingit to deliver voice, data and video services to its mobile subscribers over asingle IP Next Generation network. This helps reduce network complexity andmanagement costs. "Launching a comprehensive content platform is critical for our operations inAfrica and the Middle East. With the ability to deliver voice, video and data toour customers over a single network we are really helping customers leapfrog thedigital divide where they will not need a laptop to connect to the internet --they can get it all on the mobile device," said Karel Pienaar, Chief TechnologyInformation Officer, MTN Group. Many countries in the emerging markets are undergoing a transition from slowgrowth and limited connectivity to hyper-growth. In some instances this resultsin leapfrogging legacy technology and surpassing the infrastructure in moredeveloped countries. Cisco and MTN are working closely across Africa and theMiddle East to engage with countries, businesses and individual citizens aliketo help provide the socio-economic transformation that many strive for. "Today, customers want a significant amount of data services available to themvia their mobile phones. Traditionally, we had a number of complex disparatenetworks delivering services to our customers, which were extremely expensive tomanage," continued Pienaar. "We estimate that if we had not deployed a Ciscoplatform we would have had to increase our infrastructure 10-fold in the corenetwork just to carry all the different services to meet customer needs." MTN will deliver a suite of data, voice and video services over a highlyavailable and scalable IP Next-Generation Network, the core of which is based onthe Cisco CRS-1 routing system. The CRS-1 helps MTN to eliminate the complexityand costs associated with managing numerous disparate networks running separateservices and will maintain the highest level of network availability. The CiscoCRS-1 will also help MTN to evolve its network to deliver the next generation ofmobile IP services, such as mobile TV. "Using an IP network as the platform will help MTN to deploy new services tocustomers quickly with minimal risk and capital investment," said MassimoMigliuolo, vice president for service provider in Cisco's emerging marketstheatre. "In addition to delivering multimedia services to mobile phone users, asingle, converged IP Next Generation Network will help MTN establish itself as abroadband provider, delivering wireless Internet services to the home, and tosmall and medium-sized businesses." More information on Cisco's Carrier Routing System can be found at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps5763/index.html About the MTN Group Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group,operating in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listedon the JSE Securities Exchange under the share code: "MTN." As at 30 September2006, MTN recorded more than 34 million subscribers across its operations,including those of the newly acquired Investcom LLC. MTN Irancell launchedcommercial operations in the Islamic Republic of Iran on 21 October 2006. TheMTN Group also operates in Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Republicof Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda andZambia. The acquisition of Investcom adds the following countries of operationto MTN's portfolio -- Afghanistan, Benin, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, GuineaRepublic, Liberia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. About Cisco Systems Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms howpeople connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can befound at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in Europe is supplied by Cisco SystemsInternational BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc Cisco, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks ortrademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States andcertain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are theproperty of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not implya partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document isCisco Public Information. For direct RSS Feeds of all Cisco news, please visit "News@Cisco" at thefollowing link: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/podcasts/rss.html Press Contact: Andrew Phillips Cisco +447771975925 [email protected] Cisco Analyst Relations Contact: Malee Dharmasena +44 (0)7798 771 501 [email protected] Press Contact: Pearl Majola MTN +27 832122459 [email protected] Cisco Investor Relations Contact: Aimee Fuller +44 20 8824 0874 [email protected] This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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