• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Lucent Technologies and Riverstone Networks Sign Alliance to Deliver Converged Ethernet Networks For Service Providers

Posted on: Thursday, 30 September 2004, 06:00 CDT

MURRAY HILL, N.J., and SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 30

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lucent Technologies and Riverstone Networks (RSTN.PK) today announced that they have reached an agreement to partner to deliver complete carrier-class Ethernet solutions for new and existing carrier networks.

Lucent, by working with Riverstone, is in a unique position to provide a full triple play offer to the market that includes the Lucent Stinger(R) Digital Subscriber Line Access Concentrator, supporting IP (Internet Protocol) services, complemented by Riverstone Ethernet gear at the edge, Juniper network routers at the core, and Lucent solutions for Ethernet over Sonet/SDH and optical transport. This infrastructure, complemented by Lucent's market leading "Value over IP" solutions, will play a major role in building an integrated Next Generation Network Infrastructure that supports voice, video and data services.

The combination of Lucent optical, data and access systems and Riverstone Ethernet routers will enable carriers to cost-effectively offer converged DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)-based multimedia services, scale Ethernet-based corporate virtual private networks (VPN) and business Internet access services, and enhance the value of existing ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) and Frame Relay services by interworking with flexible, high-bandwidth Ethernet services.

Service providers globally are expected to invest $25 billion in metro Ethernet equipment (data and optical) between 2003 and 2007, according to Infonetics Research.

"By teaming with Riverstone, we can help our customers also extend their widely deployed Lucent Ethernet over SONET/SDH metro networks, and to introduce next generation Ethernet services using these same networks," said Michael Nielsen, president, Lucent Technologies Data Networking Group. "This relationship gives our customers the chance to seize the capital, operational and revenue opportunities these networks provide now and as they evolve."

Lucent will sell the combined solutions and provide technical support and maintenance to customers who purchase Riverstone's metro Ethernet routers from Lucent.

"This agreement with Lucent allows both our companies to maximize their respective strengths to capitalize on the rapid growth of Ethernet infrastructure and services, and further the era of multimedia services," said Oscar Rodriguez, CEO, Riverstone Networks.

Under the terms of the non-exclusive agreement, Lucent will integrate Riverstone's MPLS(Multiprotocol Label Switching)-based Ethernet routing equipment with Lucent systems, software and professional services to enable service providers worldwide to tie today's separate networks into an integrated, flexible Ethernet network. Riverstone's carrier Ethernet routers interwork with Lucent's multiservice switches, allowing Lucent's customers to smoothly migrate from their existing data solutions as their networks evolve. Riverstone's equipment also complements Lucent's access and metro optical networking solutions.

Through their combined solutions, Lucent Technologies and Riverstone Networks add value to the systems and software already deployed in service provider networks by increasing ease of migration to next-generation Ethernet- based architectures and allowing service providers to capture new revenue opportunities. This relationship will ensure that the collective solutions will keep pace with evolving customer needs and market opportunities. http://www.lucent.com/riverstone .

About Lucent Technologies

Lucent Technologies designs and delivers the systems, services and software that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent uses its strengths in mobility, optical, software, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for its customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Lucent's customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. For more information on Lucent Technologies, which has headquarters in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, visit http://www.lucent.com/.

About Riverstone Networks

Riverstone Networks, Inc. (RSTN.PK) is a leading provider of carrier-class solutions for next generation metro Ethernet networks. Riverstone's metro routers and provisioning solutions deliver the ease of use, cost effectiveness, and flexibility that carriers require in meeting their customers' networking requirements in support of voice, video, and data services. Riverstone uniquely permits carriers to offer homogeneous services across existing revenue-generating networks and new Ethernet deployments.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including without limitation statements as to the integration of Riverstone products into Lucent's solution offerings and possible future sales of Riverstone products under the terms of the Global Reseller Agreement between Lucent and Riverstone, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include unforeseen difficulties in integrating Riverstone and Lucent products, and a lack of market acceptance of the combined Lucent- Riverstone offering, as well as the risks detailed from time to time in Riverstone Networks' SEC reports, including its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended November 29, 2003, filed on September 2, 2004, and subsequent reports on Forms 8-K. The company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Lucent Technologies; Riverstone Networks

CONTACT: Amy Huitt of Riverstone Networks, +1-408-878-6918, orahuitt@riverstonenet.com; or Mike Alva of Lucent Technologies,+1-510-747-5148, or malva@lucent.com

Web site: http://www.lucent.com/http://www.lucent.com/riverstone

More News in this Category