Internet Service Provider VAS-NET Expands Network inUS and UK with Torrent Routers; VAS-NET...

SILVER SPRING, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 1999--VAS-NET, one of Britain's leading tier one Internet Service Providers, has announced its decision to install IP Routers from Torrent Networking Technologies within its core network as part of an initiative to expand its global networking infrastructure

As a member of the London Internet Exchange (LINX), VAS-NET uses Telehouse New York, one of the US's biggest Network Access Points, as its Internet Exchange Point for its US Access Network and operates its own Internet backbone within the London Telehouse. VAS-Net is already using Torrent IP9000 Routers, peering with 87 other ISPs on a global basis through Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), providing dense aggregation services of all its international IP traffic through Telehouse in New York, and supporting the company's European Access WAN.

Due to the nature of VAS-NET's business, which supplies and supports Internet solutions and services for a wide customer base including tier two ISPs, corporate businesses, schools and personal users, it is critical that the supporting devices within its network infrastructure are both powerful and reliable. "We currently have around 75 to 100 gigabytes of Internet traffic passing through our London communications center alone on a daily basis!" expressed Gordon Fielden, technical director for VAS-NET. If a problem were to occur in this chain, it would spark off a crisis similar in scale to a city-wide power outage, creating a domino effect affecting thousands of users, therefore it is imperative that our choice of router is the right one".

"The IP9000 Router is ideal for this application, " commented Paul Vanbosterhaut, director of European operations for Torrent. "Traditionally, high performance Internet Services have been held back by a lack of technology to support them, however Torrent's IP9000 Router represents a genuine breakthrough in this area. It's robust architecture, with built-in fault tolerance and guaranteed wire speed performance for all traffic types, will introduce the high level of scalability and performance quality that VAS-NET requires to extend its worldwide IP services".

VAS-NET's continuing plans for development include the acquisition of additional IP9000 routers, extension of the network to encompass the recently released IP9520 and migration to a direct 155Megabit link between IP9000 Routers in the UK and US. VAS-NET has already begun to reap the rewards of its network upgrades in being able to offer its prospective customers a higher quality, higher speed service than its competitors.

About VAS-NET:

VAS-NET is a leading UK-based ISP, offering a wide range of global Internet services including connectivity and high speed access via the VAS network to dial-up customers, schools, business accounts, enterprises and Internet Service Providers with a requirement for an existing networking infrastructure. VAS-NET was launched in 1996 off the back of parent company VAS, a specialist in tailor-made networking solutions such as LAN installation and building Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). VAS-NET Communication Centers are currently located in Telehouse London, Telehouse New York and in Europe. Further information can be found at http://www.vas-net.net

About Torrent Networking Technologies:

Torrent Networking Technologies is the leading innovator of Internet-class routing solutions for Service Provider networks. The company's IP9000(tm) Gigabit Router product family is optimized for traffic aggregation applications, combining industry-leading interface density and system resiliency with powerful service management capabilities. Torrent's IPaction(tm) software runs in all IP9000 platforms and provides a comprehensive suite of Internet-proven routing protocols. IP9000 Routers have been deployed by service providers around the world to deliver a new generation of high-value Internet services. Torrent was founded in August 1996 by Dr. Hemant Kanakia, who previously led switching architecture development for AT&T Bell Laboratories, and is privately held. Headquartered in Silver Spring, MD, Torrent is an active participant in the Internet2 project, the ADSL Forum, the ATM Forum, and the IP Multicast Initiative, and maintains its web site at http://www.torrentnet.com.

Torrent Networking Technologies and the Torrent IP9000 Gigabit Router are trademarks of Torrent Networking Technologies, Inc.