Solution Helps Service Providers Accelerate Revenue in the
                  Rapidly Growing Ethernet Market

SAN JOSE, Calif. and CHICAGO, March 15, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cisco
today announced that Neutral Tandem (Nasdaq:TNDM) -- a leading provider
of tandem interconnection services to wireless, wireline, cable and
broadband telephony companies -- has selected the Cisco(R) ASR 9000
Series Aggregation Services Routers to support its new Ethernet
eXchange service.

The proliferation of Internet Protocol (IP) to deliver various
services, including rich video content, is expected to lead to massive
traffic growth, increasing the Internetwork connectivity needs of
service providers. However, a lack of available internetwork
connectivity solutions presents a major challenge for Ethernet service
providers, often forcing them into complex and time-consuming
customized interconnection agreements.

The addition of Neutral Tandem's Ethernet eXchange fills the void in
the Ethernet market by providing Ethernet service providers a more
efficient and simplified method of interconnecting on a many-to-many
basis.

Highlights/Key Facts


  --  Neutral Tandem is rapidly deploying its Ethernet eXchange offering in
      key markets across the United State due to the expected significant
      ramp-up in demand from service providers offering Ethernet services to
      enterprises, as well as wireless carriers using Ethernet for mobile
      backhaul to address the dramatic increase in data traffic on mobile
      broadband networks.
  --  The Cisco ASR 9000 platform, capable of 6.4 terabytes per second,
      utilizes the modular Cisco IOS(R) XR software operating system,
      simplifying network operations for Neutral Tandem while enabling
      comprehensive system redundancy and network resiliency.
  --  Neutral Tandem believes that deploying Active Network Abstraction (ANA)
      gives it a competitive advantage, enabling a simple self-service portal
      to facilitate customer provisioning of Ethernet exchange services and
      lowering Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) through ANA's end-to-end monitoring
      and correlation capabilities.  Cisco's multiservice and multi-technology
      network management system is anticipated to enhance Neutral Tandem's
      operational efficiency and drive Operations Support Systems (OSS)
      automation.
  --  The Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Forecast and Methodology,
      2008-2013 projects that consumer broadband usage and global IP
      Next-Generation Network traffic will continue to climb significantly due
      to the new forms and expanded usage of interactive media, and the
      explosion of video content across multiple devices.  Global IP traffic
      is expected to increase fivefold from 2008 to 2013, approaching 56
      exabytes per month in 2013, up from approximately 10 exabytes per month
      in 2008.




Supporting Quotes:


  --  Rian Wren, president and chief executive officer, Neutral Tandem 




"We anticipate that our new Ethernet eXchange platform will help
service providers accelerate revenue in the rapidly growing Ethernet
market. The Cisco ASR 9000, with its high resiliency and the capability
to scale to 100GE, is the ideal foundation of our new service
infrastructure. This platform -- together with our proven experience in
interconnecting carriers, IP next-generation backbone network,
technical resources and footprint in key metropolitan markets -- will
form a winning combination."


  --  Kelly Ahuja, senior vice president and general manager, service provider
      routing technology group, Cisco




"We are delighted that Neutral Tandem has chosen the Cisco ASR 9000 as
the foundation of its Ethernet Exchange business. With Cisco at the
edge and core of the network, Neutral Tandem will deliver a
service-enabled IP Next-Generation Network that will help them to
further its leadership in the wholesale interconnection market."

Supporting Resources:


  --  Embedded Video Available:
      http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=596226
  --  Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1197113
  --  Neutral Tandem
  --  Cisco Web Site
  --  Cisco Service Provider
  --  Cisco ASR 9000 Series
  --  Swisscom Selects Cisco ASR 9000 to Prepare for the 'Zettabyte Era'
  --  DT and Cisco ASR 9000: Capacity and Capability Enable Advanced Services
  --  Cisco Delivers the Carrier Ethernet Foundation for the 'Zettabyte Era':
      The new Cisco Aggregation Services Router 9000
  --  Cisco Recognizes Verizon Wireless for Operational Excellence
  --  Cisco Visual Networking Index Forecast Web Site
  --  Read: Cisco SP360 Blog
  --  Follow the Cisco SP360 team on Twitter and Cisco SP360 on Facebook




About Cisco Systems

Cisco (Nasdaq:CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking that transforms
how people connect, communicate and collaborate, this year celebrates
25 years of technology innovation, operational excellence and corporate
social responsibility. Information about Cisco can be found at
http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to
http://newsroom.cisco.com.

About Neutral Tandem, Inc.

Headquartered in Chicago, Neutral Tandem, Inc. is a leading provider of
tandem interconnection services to wireless, wireline, cable and
broadband telephony companies. Neutral Tandem's solutions build
redundancy, security and operational efficiencies into the nation's
telecommunications infrastructure. As of December 31, 2009, Neutral
Tandem was capable of connecting approximately 480 million telephone
numbers assigned to carriers. Telephone numbers assigned to a carrier
may not necessarily be assigned to, and in use by, an end user. Please
visit Neutral Tandem's website at: www.neutraltandem.com.

The Neutral Tandem Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3797

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve
substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, included in this press release regarding
strategy, future operations, future financial position, future
revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of
management are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipates,"
"believes," "expects," "estimates," "projects," "plans," "intends,"
"may," "will," "would," and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking
statements contain these identifying words. Neither Cisco nor Neutral
Tandem may actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations
disclosed in its forward-looking statements. Actual results or events
could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations
disclosed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause
such differences include, but are not limited to: risks associated with
the ability to successfully develop and market Ethernet interconnection
services, including interconnection delays, the inability to obtain
necessary third party materials, services or required approvals on a
timely basis, if at all, and other factors, including the impact of
regulation, many of which are beyond our control and all of which could
delay our ability to offer or market this new service; and other
important factors included in Cisco's and Neutral Tandem's reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly in the
"Risk Factors" section of Neutral Tandem's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the period ended December 31, 2009, and Cisco's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the period ended July 25, 2009 and Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for the quarters ended October 24, 2009 and January 23, 2010,
in each case as such Risk Factors may be updated from time to time in
subsequent reports. Neither Cisco nor Neutral Tandem assumes any
obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Cisco, the Cisco logo, Cisco Systems and IOS 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.


CONTACT:  Cisco
          Cisco Press Contact:
          Kevin Petschow
            (773) 444.5106
            kpetscho@cisco.com
          Industry Analyst Contact:
          Carter Cromwell
            (408) 526.6914
            ccromwel@cisco.com
          Investor Relations Contact:
          Matt Tractenberg
            (408) 525.3170
            matthew2@cisco.com

          Neutral Tandem
          Press Contact:
          Gerard Laurain
            (312)384.8041
            glaurain@neutraltandem.com
          Investor Relations Contact:
          Jim Polson
            (866) 268.4744