Fujitsu and Cisco Team Up for IP Networks

Fujitsu Limited and Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced that they have reached a fundamental agreement to enter into a strategic alliance focusing on routers and switches that will enable service providers and enterprises to build advanced Internet Protocol (IP) networks.

Under this collaboration, Fujitsu and Cisco will carry out joint development of high-end routers, plan future cooperation in routing and switching, and collaborate on continuous quality improvement, enhanced support and service.

"Partnering is a strategic imperative for companies such as Cisco and Fujitsu to address service providers' and enterprise customer requirements," said Mike Volpi, senior vice president of Cisco's Routing Technology Group.

"Telecommunications service provider networks must support the highest quality service levels and be built upon the best technologies available," said Chiaki Ito, corporate executive vice president, Fujitsu Limited.

IP-based networking products such as routers and switches are central elements of future network infrastructures, and the performance and quality of these products will have a major impact on network systems overall.

Through this agreement, the companies will take advantage of Cisco's worldwide leadership in IP technologies and Fujitsu's industry-leading expertise in high-reliability and high-availability technologies to quickly and continually bring to market world-class networking products.

The alliance will initially focus on the Japanese market in these key areas:
The companies will collaborate on development of Cisco's IOS-XR operating system for multi-terabit routers. This is the first time Cisco has joined with another communications equipment manufacturer in router operating system development.

Fujitsu will offer telecommunications service providers and enterprise users comprehensive network solutions that combine specific networking products with servers and other computing equipment, based on a roadmap of both companies' router and switch product offerings.

The companies will work closely together on test and integration processes to ensure carrier class quality requirements are met as well as offering service and support to ensure highest level of customer success.

Fujitsu is a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Pace-setting technologies, highly reliable computing and communications platforms, and a worldwide corps of systems and services experts uniquely position Fujitsu to deliver comprehensive solutions that open up infinite possibilities for its customers' success.