SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced that JAPAN TELECOM Co., Ltd., ("JAPAN TELECOM"), is deploying a next-generation MPLS-based service called mpls ASSOCIO powered by the Cisco 12000 Series Routers and Cisco MPLS IOS software. Enabling a rich set of MPLS core and edge features, this new offering significantly expands market opportunity for MPLS-based services across Japan and allows for greater internetworking capabilities for service providers. Japan Telecom's MPLS based Internet Exchange (IX) service provides a flexible approach through a variety of Layer 2 and Layer 3 services, over the same network infrastructure, and is now able to offer an innovative new peering service utilizing a broadband capable 10 Gigabit (Gbps) MPLS backbone. The mpls ASSOCIO (http://www.associo.jp) can dynamically modify bandwidth allocations on a per service provider basis. The service satisfies the increasing bandwidth and connectivity demands meeting broadband service and applications at any time and from anywhere. "Cisco is the best networking partner to deliver advanced MPLS Carrier Supporting Carrier (CsC) solutions with Security, Accounting and Traffic Engineering capability fully integrated, thus ensuring that our customers can deploy new IX service whenever and wherever required," said Ted Toshihiko Katagi, Exective Director, Head of Enterprise Business Unit of Japan Telecom. Cisco Systems Inc. Japan Telecom Co. Ltd.