Cisco wins $5m European network contract

NEWS Cisco has won a $5m contract to install an international IP network for European telecoms carrier, Carrier1. Carrier1 claims the network is the first in Europe to be based on the latest 155Mbps SDH (synchronous digital hierarchy) ring technology. The network will be supported with Cisco hardware and software backbone routing equipment. Carrier1 will now launch a range of services targeted directly at Internet service providers and other online service firms who will then offer them to corporate customers. A spokesman for Carrier1 said the quality and pricing of the service will surpass that which other larger carriers can provide. "Because we have ownership of the network we can improve customer services too," he added. The network will reach across five European countries: Austria, France, Germany, Holland and the UK. It will also provide link to New York. Carrier1 now intends to implement a second network dedicated to voice communications for business customers.