MUMBAI, India -- Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL), India's leading telecommunications and Internet service provider, and Cisco Systems® (Nasdaq:CSCO - News), the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, announced today the deployment of India's largest broadband Metro Ethernet solution for Tata Indicom Broadband Services. The solution is the largest broadband Metro Ethernet deployment in India and will provide VSNL's enterprise and residential customers with high-quality broadband services of 10/100-Mbps connectivity.

Cisco® technology enables delivery of bundled services such as voice over IP, broadcast TV and video on demand for residential customers, and IP VPN and videoconferencing services for business customers. The deployment of Cisco technology supports VSNL's endeavor to provide state-of-the-art "triple-play" (voice, data and video) Tata Indicom Broadband Services across 8 cities in the country, in the first phase. The current deployment can connect more than a million customers.

"Enhancing customer experience, through innovation and superior technology, is an integral philosophy of the bouquet of Tata Indicom services offered by VSNL. Tata Indicom Broadband Services will be backed by Cisco's Metro Ethernet solution and leadership in the IP arena," said Mr. Sashi Kalathil, head of Broadband, VSNL. "Tata Indicom Broadband customers will experience the highest-quality standards of end-to-end video, voice and data services, all provided by a single service provider," he added.

Mr. Rangu Salgame, President, Cisco Systems India and SAARC said "Cisco is pleased that VSNL has chosen its broadband Metro Ethernet solution to provide integrated voice, data and video services. This end-to-end Internet Protocol solution delivers significant operational and capital cost savings to VSNL and enables them to offer world-class value-added services to address their corporate and residential customer demands with comprehensive security, scalability and quality of service."

Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (VSNL)

Cisco Systems Inc.