To reinforce its positioning in the end-to-end internetworking solutions space, Cisco Systems has adopted Converged Network as its mantra for this year. In keeping with this theme, the company will focus on Net telephony and IP-based networks and on the enterprise and service provider space to begin with. In keeping with Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers growth prediction for the multinational, the growth rate for Cisco Systems, has been pegged at 30-40 per cent this year. In order to achieve this growth the company will concentrate on VPN, wireless, security and content switching besides IP telephony.

Cisco Systems vice-president (sales, broadband services and metro networks) Naresh Wadhwa said that the companys focus on increasing the adoption of converged networks stemmed from the ability of convergence to impact entire networks. He explained that convergence, also known as multi-service networking, referred to the integration of voice, data and video solutions onto a single IP-based network.

Whether it is work force organisation, e-commerce, supply chain management or CRM initiatives, the converged network provides the necessary foundation to decrease implementation time and optimise an organisations investment in new technologies. Moving to a converged network can substantially reduce a companys total cost of ownership for its network and reduce the ongoing costs required to maintain and upgrade the network.

Converged network, branded Exceleration by Cisco, is about excellence and acceleration in product and services delivery, according to Mr Wadhwa. He said, In India, we will focus on horizontal technology segments like IP telephony, end-to-end security solutions, content delivery and wireless networks, besides increasing our marketshare in switches to 65 per cent. In the vertical segments, corporates and voice service providers (post-April 1) will be important to us.

At the outset, Exceleration is facilitating the increased adoption of converged networks, he added.