Italtel Extends Managed Business Voice Solution for Businesses of All Sizes with Cisco

Italtel, leader in the development and integration of next
generation IP network products and services, today announced a new
joint solution with Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) to help service
providers address the rapid growth in the managed IP communications
services market. The Integrated Networked Business Voice Solution
(IN-BVS) gives service providers the capability to offer a rich
portfolio of managed and hosted solutions, facilitating the adoption
of advanced Unified Communications services for businesses of all
sizes.

The recent advances in Unified Communications services from Cisco
integrate previously disparate communications channels and devices,
such as instant messaging, fax, email, fixed and mobile phones, web
and video conferencing, to help businesses drive efficiency and
performance and remain competitive. Cisco and Italtel are leading the
development of Unified Communications systems, creating new business
opportunities for telecom operators to provide innovative managed
services for business customers. These value-added services contribute
to higher margins and revenues for service providers in a market where
traditional voice revenue streams are rapidly declining.

Managed services providers throughout Europe are capitalising on
the trend of enterprise outsourcing and out-tasking of non-core
business services. Recent research from Ovum on the managed services
market in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region forecasts
total services revenue will grow to USD 14 billion by 2009, with
managed IP voice services revenue growing at the fastest annual
compound rate of 71%.

The Italtel-Cisco IN-BVS solution is being deployed by a number of
European Service Providers as part of their IP next-generation network
(IP NGN) strategy. With the solution, operators can provide end-to-end
remote management, carrier-grade quality of service and security, and
advanced, customisable services, such as centralized contact
directories, unified messaging and fixed-mobile integration, all fully
integrated with the existing enterprise IT environment. The IN-BVS
solution also allows the operator to efficiently manage the migration
of legacy voice networks to IP-based next generation networks, whilst
maintaining interoperability with existing systems.

"We can see a strong acceleration in processes and technologies
based on digital convergence, a development that also induces other
international telecommunications operators to propose new, previously
unheard of business models," says Mauro Righetti, Italtel CEO. "The
solution presented today with Cisco, our strategic partner, can guide
all operators, from carriers to Internet Service Providers, towards
new and more efficient means of service delivery, such as managed
services, to combine specific needs for migration towards more
innovative and more efficient networks with the need to increase
business customer satisfaction."

"Today's launch is the first of many joint solutions that Cisco
and Italtel will be delivering to the industry following the extension
of our strategic relationship announced last month," said Geraint
Anderson, vice president of Service Providers in European markets at
Cisco. "I believe our collaboration with Italtel will help our
customers gain a competitive edge by taking advantage of their
next-generation networks to deliver more innovative, profitable
services."

The Italtel-Cisco IN-BVS solution is an end-to-end solution that
integrates the Italtel Softswitch (i-SSW) with Cisco Unified
CallManager (CCM) and Cisco Unified CallManager Express (CCME)
call-control systems. Using Italtel's "Coordinated Provisioning"
platform, service providers can remotely configure, manage and monitor
all services provided at the customer's premises, helping to ensure
supply process continuity and scalability, whilst reducing the
management complexity of all network elements.

Italtel and Cisco are holding a joint press conference to
introduce the IN-BVS solution on 11 October, 11.30-13.00 at the
Broadband World Forum. Location: CNIT - La Defense, Press Conference
Room - Amphitheatre Diderot, Level D

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in
networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information is available
at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to
http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in Europe is supplied by
Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco
Systems, Inc.

Cisco, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo are registered
trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates
in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks
mentioned in this document are the property of their respective
owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership
relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document is
Cisco Public Information.

About Italtel

The Italtel Group designs, develops and implements next generation
multiservice integrated network systems (voice/data/image), using
state-of-the-art products and a system integration capacity that
guarantees reliable infrastructures, open to networking and flexible
in technology development terms, to telecommunications operators
(fixed and mobile), Internet Service Providers, large enterprises and
Public Authorities. Italtel turnover in FY 2005 was 545.8 million
euro, and the company currently has around 2,300 staff. The body of
shareholders of Italtel Group S.p.A., parent company of Italtel
S.p.A., is composed as follows: CDRD Investment (Luxembourg) III
S.ar.l., (48.77%), Telecom Italia Finance S.A. (19.37%), Cisco Systems
International B.V. (18.40%), Advent Investment (Luxembourg) S.ar.l. n.
3 (8.65%), Brera Italtel LLC (2.16%), Cordusio Societa Fiduciaria per
Azioni - shareholder in a fiduciary capacity for Group employees and
Company directors other than its own holding in the Company - (2.65%).
The CEO of Italtel is Mauro Righetti. Web site: www.italtel.com