HANNOVER, Germany -- Cisco Systems (Nasdaq:CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced that Acantho, a private Italian service provider, has selected Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) technology from Cisco to roll out its next-generation broadband network. Acantho is deploying 100Mbps and 10Mbps broadband connectivity and services directly to business and residential customers using Ethernet and optical fiber. This extra 'headroom' in the broadband connection makes the deployment of rich content and services much simpler. Owned by a consortium of utility companies in the Emilia-Romagna region, Acantho is forging a new model, which does not rely on existing legacy copper infrastructure in the last mile. The service provider uses the existing 'rights of way' owned by the utility company consortium to lay fiber-optic cable from its network edge direct to customers' buildings. The network infrastructure provides end-to-end Ethernet right up to the socket in the customer's apartment or office block using Cisco's Catalyst(R) 4000 and 6500 switches in the metro network, together with 2600 and 1700 routers at or near the customers' premises. "We've built a model that allows us to provide high-speed connectivity into businesses and multi-dwelling units without being slowed down by competitive issues, as we are not using Incumbent-owned infrastructure," commented Ian Limbach, technical program officer at Acantho. "What's more, basing our service on Ethernet is making the whole process very simple as we roll out new services." In a separate release: Oulu Telecom (OT) a Finnish telecommunications company and Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, announced today that Oulu Telecom is deploying Cisco Long-Reach Ethernet (LRE) to offer next-generation broadband services to both residential and business customers in Northern Finland. The solution allows users to watch real-time digital television broadcasts and simultaneously use broadband Internet services at up to 15 Mbp/s via a TV set. Oulu Telecom has been offering broadband services based on Cisco's ADSL technology in Finland since 1999. OT chose Cisco LRE technology to enable it to respond to the increasing demand for broadband services and to deliver the service to customers efficiently and cost-effectively, both in metropolitan and rural areas of Northern Finland. LRE brings the customer a clear improvement in access speed. Under optimal conditions, ADSL can provide a downstream performance of about 8 Mbps and an upstream performance of about 800 Kbps. Long-Reach Ethernet is faster and less expensive to deploy and maintain than ATM-based access technologies enabling symmetrical connections of up to 15 Mbps. "Cisco was an obvious choice as its LRE technology considerably extends the usage of Ethernet, whilst utilising the existing telephone network, digital telephone and ISDN lines," said Risto Siivola, managing director of Oulu Telecom. "The technology delivers cost-effective, high-performance broadband access to hotels, residential units, office buildings and enterprise facility environments such as educational campuses." Cisco Systems Inc.