Cisco Wins in Czech Republic

BRNO, Czech Republic -- SMART Comp., a Czech metropolitan optical networks operator, plans to build a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) optical network in Brno based on Cisco's Internet Protocol (IP) networking architecture. Thanks to FTTH technology, residents will be able to use triple-play services (Internet access, digital TV and VoIP telephony) in a converged way, with a quality superior to that of most commonly available types of connections. SMART Comp. plans to offer triple-play services in about 6,600 homes by September 2009.

"We are building a state-of-the-art network that takes fiber optic links directly to the homes of our customers and is ready for next-generation digital data, voice, TV and video services. We have decided on the FTTH architecture because it is future-proof and maximizes return on such an important infrastructure investment. For example, the network will be dimensioned for broadband speeds of up to 100 megabits per second and will be resistant to different types of interference," said Marek Bukal, chair of the board and head of strategic planning and development at SMART Comp.

Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO)