Press release: Race Communications announces new Nortel OPTera Metro equipment.

Company Race Communications, a Russian system integrator, announces the upcoming expansion of the Optical Metro line by Nortel Networks, the world's leading manufacturer of telecommunications equipment. New products will speed up the implementation of networks Ethernet based on optical fiber on a city scale and at the same time reduce the cost of operating such networks.

Release of the OPTera Metro access device 1200 Ethernet Services Module (ESM) is scheduled for March 2002, it is designed for fast connection by Ethernet network providers of corporate customers. OPTera Metro 1200 ESM provides a 10-fold increase in throughput compared to existing technologies, and also requires less support and maintenance costs due to network simplification.

Users are connected via 12 10/100BaseT Ethernet ports configured to operate in the user-to-network, while you can organize up to 500 virtual private networks (VPNs). Up to two Gigabit Ethernet ports are installed in the OPTera Metro 1200 ESM to connect to the network (1000BaseTX) or a two-port Small Form Pluggable (SFP) Gigabit Interface Connector (GBIC) module. You can increase the number of connected users using Layer 2 LAN switches, for example, Passport 8600. Advanced management capabilities allow you to distribute traffic based on VPN identifiers with an increment of 1 Mbit/s, provide support for SNMP, various configuration tools, including Java-based and Web-based.

The OPTera Metro 8000 Services Switch will be available for order in the second quarter of 2002, this device is used to enter the provider's backbone network or to create small highways. Four versions of the chassis are capable of carrying from three to ten expansion cards, the bandwidth reaches 65 Gbit/s, and the processor power is 96 million packets per second.

The new switch provides bandwidth management from 1 Mbit/s up to 1 Gbit/s with the provision of quality of service (QoS) according to the specifications of 802.1p/q based on the level, type and class of service. Support for MPLS and internetwork connections at Layer 2 and Layer 3 levels for VPN simplifies the implementation of private IP-based networks OPTera Metro 8000 Services Switch. For users with high reliability requirements, this device can be supplied in a configuration with full redundancy and the possibility of hot -swapping modules.

"We are seeing a constant increase in both the number of Gigabit Ethernet ports being installed and the requirements for bandwidth and fault tolerance of urban networks," said Mikhail Shestakov, Head of the System Expertise Department at Race Communications. " The release of new OPTera Metro products will successfully meet many of these requirements."

Race Communications, a Russian system integrator, offers laboratory-tested solutions from leading telecommunications equipment suppliers. The company carries out a full cycle of work: design, delivery, installation, as well as training of specialists and project support.

More information about Race Communications you can get it by phone (495) 785-0770, 916-RACE (916-7223), on the Web server www.race.ru or by email mail@race.ru .