Riverstone Aims to Expand in Europe

READING, U.K. -- Riverstone Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: RSTNE) today announced that it is recruiting partners to expand its European Channel Partner Programme, part of the company's global Partner Programme. Riverstone is looking to develop strategic alliances with key vendors, system integrators and value-added resellers to build best-of-breed MPLS solutions, particularly in the European mission critical network market, as well as the service provider market.

Riverstone's current partnerships with leading European vendors and network integrators such as Marconi, Alcatel SA and Telindus has resulted in the deployment of Riverstone's leading MPLS solutions within service provider and mission critical networks across Europe. Recent customer deployments include solutions for Telefonica, Telia, Comstar and the Austrian and Romanian governments. Riverstone is also looking to partner with local systems integrators to extend its reach from service provider networks into mission critical networks for governments, education and research facilities, and large corporations.

Riverstone is building its programme to replicate the success of these existing agreements and develop further mutually beneficial partnerships through the Channel Partner Programme, creating new Certified Resellers and Service Delivery Partners. By partnering with Riverstone, vendors and integrators receive sales, marketing and support benefits so they can provide customers with value-added services over any network infrastructure.

"This programme makes it easy to partner with Riverstone", commented Steve Whipps, Vice President and General Manager for EMEA at Riverstone. "We realise that a joint solution offers end-users considerable benefits by simplifying the deployment of advanced networking services. For both our partners and ourselves, it provides the opportunity to extend our businesses into new geographies and market sectors."

To make the most advantageous strategic alliances, Riverstone has devised strict selection criteria to help assess whether potential partners meet its requirements for high standards of technical expertise, service delivery and customer focus. Both Certified Resellers and Service Delivery Partners must have a service provider and/or a mission critical network focus, local account knowledge, a complementary best-of-breed vendor portfolio, good geographical coverage and strong technical expertise, preferably with multi-vendor experience.

In addition, Service Delivery Partners are required to provide local language helpdesks for level 1 and 2 support, as well as field engineering capabilities, offering same day spares logistics and training expertise. Riverstone requires that partners can also plan, design and implement services, as well as offer programme management and professional services capabilities.

Whipps continued, "We believe that combining Riverstone's industry leading portfolio of MPLS technologies with those of our partners offers huge potential for the service provider and mission critical network communities. We are actively extending our Partner Programme and look forward to building strong relationships with some of Europe's leading technology companies."

Riverstone Networks Inc.