Sify's IP Backbone is India's first Tier 1 Class IP Network Infrastructure Powered by Cisco Gigabit Switch Routers and on par with leading global networks

Sify Limited, India's premier Internet, networks and eCommerce services company, and Cisco Systems, the world leader in network infrastructure equipment, jointly announced that Sify's IP backbone network infrastructure is now India's first Tier 1 IP network infrastructure. This places Sify's network infrastructure on par with a select group of international network service providers such as AT&T, Singtel and Telstra, and is a significant achievement not only for the company, but the network industry in India.

Announcing this achievement, Mr R Ramaraj, MD, Sify Limited, said, "Our Tier 1 IP network infrastructure will enable us to deliver next generation networking services to our customers such as sophisticated Virtual Private Networks providing differentiated services. It enhances our capabilities to run any kind of traffic- voice, video and data, on our network in a manner that is customized to meet the most demanding requirements. They will also have the added advantage of having Sify's networking experts, the best and most experienced in the country, working with them to help them realize their business goals".

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Manoj Chugh, President- India & SAARC, Cisco Systems, said, "IP networks are becoming the standard the world over for the speed, flexibility, reliability and ubiquity in terms of services that they enable. Sify, India's pioneer in IP data services, has built out its network infrastructure with leading edge solutions from Cisco systems to become India's first Tier 1 IP network infrastructure, comparable to the best networks in the world. Sify's Tier 1 IP backbone infrastructure is powered by Cisco Gigabit Switch Routers (GSRs), which deliver optimal performance in terms of speed, reliability and capacity, and are preferred by network service providers across the globe".

Over 50 % of Sify's revenues are from corporate data and connectivity services with the company being the leader in the Indian market for these services. Sify's customers can now benefit from the company's Tier 1 IP network infrastructure as one of the fastest and most advanced networks in the world. Featuring Cisco's Gigabit Switch Routers in a national backbone for the first time in India, the network can handle terabits of data with ease with a high degree of reliability.

To maximize Indian corporates investments in implementing ERP, Supply Chain Management, CRM and other such enterprise applications, companies need to increasingly connect every office, employee or business partner. Sify's SecureConnect, a comprehensive range of IP VPN solutions, running on the foundation of this Tier 1 IP network infrastructure, enables them to do this cost effectively in a scalable, secure and reliable manner.

Enabling India's first Tier 1 IP network infrastructure is in line with Sify's history of pioneering the IP network and data services revolution in the country. The first to establish a native IP network and pioneer IP Network Services in India. The first company to be certified ISO 9001:2000 for network, data centres and customer relationship management. As well as the first to MPLS (Multi Protcol Label Switching) enable the network for differentiated services, prioritizing voice, video or data transmission as required.

For Sify, the Tier 1 IP network infrastructure is an important milestone in realizing its goal of customer delight by constantly enabling cutting edge networking technologies and services that meet customers growing needs.