Astracon Enables Multi-Vendor IP VPN Solutions

July 10, 2002 -- IP and broadband network service activation company Astracon Inc. (Astracon.com) announced on Wednesday that it is enabling multi-vendor equipment management to activate IP VPN services over networks that include Cisco and third-party equipment.

Astracon says its NetConnect adapters for networking equipment interface third party routers to Cisco’s VPNSC, allowing VPNSC to activate VPNs across multiple companies’ routers and allowing service providers to seamlessly activate IP VPNs.

"Cisco VPNSC is the leading IP VPN management system -- it has over 100 service provider customers worldwide. By extending the proven VPNSC architecture, Astracon's NetConnect multi-vendor adaptors provide our customers an option to support heterogeneous IP VPN networks," says Daniel Kwong, director of product marketing at Cisco.

Astracon also said that it has successfully deployed VPNSC at MTS Communications Inc., a subsidiary of Canadian incumbent telecom operator Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. Recently awarded a contract to provide VPN connectivity for 85 government offices across Manitoba, MTS invested in an MPLS-based network in order to better deliver data services. Astracon says its deployment of the VPNSC platform allows MTS to configure and deliver IP VPN service on demand.