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Telecommunications equipment industry

Cisco and General Instrument Partner with AT&T to Develop Seamless Internet Protocol Solution

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Cisco Systems, Inc. and General Instrument Corporation have announced plans to work with AT&T on a non-exclusive basis to develop a seamless, end-to-end Internet Protocol (IP) solution that would enable AT&T to offer data, voice, and video services over its hybrid fiber-coax network. The proposed solution would allow AT&T customers to simultaneously watch television, send and receive faxes, surf the World Wide Web, and talk on the telephone.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Cisco/GI IP telephony solution under development would enable AT&T to offer a suite of advanced services, including data, voice, and video services, over a single cable line.
  • The proposed solution would utilize advanced networking and Voice-over-IP (VoIP) technologies to enable cost-effective delivery of consumer services while streamlining operational demands.
  • The IP backbone would contain the Cisco 12000 Gigabit Switch Router (GSR) and the Universal Broadband Router (uBR), with the packet telephony gateways based on the Cisco AS5X00 voice-over-IP gateway servers.
  • The primary gateway to the next-generation network would be GI's DCT-5000+ advanced consumer digital in-home terminal.
  • The integration of GI's suite of industry-standard Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) solutions into AT&T's network would offer a more cost-effective alternative to traditional circuit-switched telephony systems.

Statistics:

  • The proposed market trial is expected to begin in late 1999, with an objective of moving toward commercial availability next year.
  • The Cisco/GI IP telephony solution would utilize the Cisco 12000 Gigabit Switch Router (GSR) and the Universal Broadband Router (uBR) in the IP backbone.
  • The packet telephony gateways would be based on the Cisco AS5X00, voice-over-IP gateway servers.
  • GI's DCT-5000+ advanced consumer digital in-home terminal would serve as the primary gateway to the next-generation network.

Sources:

  • PRNewswire, "Cisco Systems, General Instrument and AT&T Announce Joint Development Agreement for Next-Generation Broadband Network", January 7, (no year provided)
  • Cisco Systems, Inc., About Cisco Systems, http://www.cisco.com
  • General Instrument, About General Instrument, http://www.gi.com

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