Cisco Systems announced that Digiweb Ltd, one of Ireland's largest privately-owned Internet Service Providers (ISP), will offer 80 percent of the population converged data, voice and video ("triple-play") services using a country-wide network built on Cisco Systems Internet Protocol Next Generation Network (IP NGN) technology.

The Cisco IP Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) backbone will provide the high-capacity, intelligent transport required by Digiweb to deliver digital video and multi-media services over IP over its wireless "last mile" access network to homes and businesses. This will be the first wireless broadband network of this kind in Ireland to intelligently support digital IP television (IPTV) and full multi-media services direct to the major population centres in Ireland. This network is expected to support over 50,000 IPTV and media customers.

As well as providing Digiweb with one of the fastest, high-capacity broadband infrastructures in Ireland, the Cisco network will help Digiweb gain a competitive advantage using its "last mile" access to its customers. Digiweb also plans to offer greater business benefits to its customers with the introduction of its "Metro" platform allowing for much faster bandwidth services and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, which will be able to save users an average EUR 25 a month for telephone line rental and broadband on demand.

"The Cisco technology means we can provide a complete end-to-end solution to either a single home or multiple large business sites," said John Quinn, head of strategic development, Digiweb. "The Cisco technology also means that we will have a very robust, wholesale model. We will be able to offer network bandwidth to other service providers and offer other broadband network services at considerable savings compared to technologies like leased lines."

Quinn said, "With the Cisco technology we will have one of the most powerful, nation-wide networks in Ireland which puts us one step ahead of the market now and for several years to come. This technology also means we can start to offer more innovative services based on customer need such as creating digital communities where regional or common interest users can share high-capacity bandwidth for less cost, bringing real benefit and value to broadband networking."

Quinn added, "We're a very demanding customer and I have to say that the service we received from Cisco has been absolutely outstanding. We see this as a very long-term strategic partnership."

Digiweb is developing its high-speed network using Cisco Metro Ethernet networking technology comprising Cisco Catalyst 2900 Series switches, Cisco Catalyst 4900 Series switches and Cisco 7300 Series routers. The company is also using Cisco PIX firewall appliances and software to underpin an integrated security approach to its network infrastructure.

"The Digiweb network platform demonstrates the value of intelligence in the 'second-mile' to support a variety of 'last mile' technologies," said Michael Galvin, Country Manager Ireland, Cisco Systems. "In this case, last mile access is wireless broadband with Cisco Metro Ethernet intelligent aggregation over the second mile. Services like IPTV need intelligent capabilities in the second mile, such as redundant and scalable Multicasting, to support mass scale deployments at a cost that meets the commercial objectives of the business. This concept of intelligent aggregation is the same approach that has made the fortune of some of the most successful triple-play deployments in Europe."