SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cisco today announced that Nationwide, a leading provider of diversified insurance and financial services to customers across the United States, has built a core optical network at its Columbus, OH. headquarters based on Cisco ONS 15454 Multiservice Transport Platforms (MSTPs) that will help the company more efficiently manage its current networking requirements and to better prepare for future information technology (IT) initiatives.

Using this high-speed, high-bandwidth network, Nationwide has reduced costs associated with adding certain new network connections up to 75 percent from previous methods, and has reduced the time required from an average of 90 days down to just 14.

"Consolidating our network infrastructure over an optical core is a strategic IT initiative designed to increase productivity, improve business continuity, and provide new services for Nationwide and its associates," said Randy Holt, a senior officer at Nationwide's Network Engineering and Operations Group. "We want to make sure our network is a facilitator of solutions to address current and future business demands across our entire company."

Cisco Systems Inc.