BILBAO, Spain -- Cisco Systems® (NASDAQ:CSCO - News) announced today that Euskaltel, the leading cable operator and broadband service provider in the Basque country in Spain, is introducing usage-based billing to its broadband services portfolio to enhance choice and lower the entry level to broadband services for its customers. The new billing capabilities are made possible using the Service Exchange Framework of the Cisco Internet Protocol Next Generation Network (IP NGN), which features the CableLabs standard-compliant Subscriber Account Management Interface Specification (SAMIS) embedded in the Cisco Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS). Euskaltel has recently gained a leading position in the broadband market as the operator with the largest number of broadband subscribers in the Basque country.

Euskaltel launched its usage-based broadband service in July 2005 to give its customers the broadest choice of bandwidth and billing options. "Euskaltel is aiming to universalise broadband through a strategy of offering the best range of services in the market," said Aitor Marcaida, Director of Marketing, Euskaltel. "Our objective is to maintain our lead in the Basque country as a broadband services provider. By providing the greatest choice and fastest access speeds, we hope to achieve the highest rate of broadband penetration and broadband usage for our customers." Euskaltel broadband services are available at bandwidths up to 8 Mbps on flat rate, time-based and usage-based billing options.

Idoia Uriarte, Network and Services Engineering Director at Euskaltel said: "Our cable access network is based on Cisco CMTS routers and we considered that utilising the embedded subscriber management features, based on a standard compliant solution, was the best way to deploy usage-based billing."

"Euskaltel operates in a fast-moving market and needs to be continuously proactive in developing its portfolio and expanding its customer base," said Luis Martins, Cable Solutions Development Manager, Cisco Systems. "The Service Exchange Framework is a fundamental component of Cisco's IP Next Generation Network and includes subscriber management solutions such as usage-based billing. Cisco's Service Exchange solutions are key to helping our customers bring more creative and attractive offerings to market more quickly."

Cisco Systems Inc.