NETWORKS

Juniper Networks today announced that RailTel Corporation of India has selected its M-series multiservice edge routing platform to help transform RailTel's nationwide TDM-based railway network into a next-generation IP/MPLS network. The deployment will create one of India's largest IP/MPLS Virtual Private Network (VPN) infrastructures, enabling RailTel to offer a wide variety of value-added services including Layer 3 IP VPNs, Layer 2 virtual leased line services, virtual private LAN services (VPLS) and managed IP VPN services with associated Quality of Service (QoS). The project calls for the installation of M-series platforms in 38 cities in India and will enable RailTel to compete with some of India's largest carriers in providing advanced telecommunications services that go beyond simple broadband access. RailTel operates a vast Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) network featuring comprehensive national coverage. The network is currently comprised of 25,000 kilometers of cabling, and RailTel plans to grow this infrastructure to 40,000 kilometers in the next three to four years. RailTel points of presence (POPs) will be available at every railway station (totaling approximately 4,000 POPs by 2008), providing secure Internet connections to railway customers. The Juniper Networks M-series multiservice edge routing platform, which supports the industry's most comprehensive VPN portfolio, enables service providers to rapidly and efficiently deploy new, revenue-generating services to their customers. The high-performance platform supports rich Layer 2 services including ATM, Frame Relay, Ethernet, comprehensive Layer 3 services and integrated firewall and data encryption protection. All Juniper Networks routing platforms are unified on the fault-tolerant, modular JUNOS operating system for consistent services and ease of administration. "Growing demand for advanced telecommunication services in India provides RailTel the impetus to transform from a traditional telco selling pure broadband access to a next-generation service provider creating value-added services for corporate customers," said Mahesh Mangal, RailTel's director, Networking, Planning and Marketing. "Deploying the Juniper Networks M-series routing platform will enable a wide range of telecommunication services, including intranet, extranet and Internet services -- providing immense benefit to RailTel's customers in both urban and rural locations throughout India." "RailTel's deployment of IP/MPLS is highly significant to Juniper Networks as it highlights the capability of the M-series to help service providers evolve their networks from selling simple bandwidth to selling advanced services that bring true value to their customers, which is the essence of the Infranet vision," said Adam Judd, vice president, Asia Pacific, Juniper Networks. "RailTel's network was primarily used to manage communication and guarantee the safety of India's railway network, but the Indian government had the foresight to capitalize on these assets and provide an advanced communication system to benefit a greater number of people. Juniper Networks is proud to be part of this implementation."