Telekom Malaysia Standardizes Network Infrastructure for New R&D Innovation Center on 3Com Core, Edge and Wireless LAN Solution

TM’s R&D arm selects 3Com for its ability to offer comprehensive converged networking and security solutions for less

MALAYSIA – 12 December 2008 – 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) today announced that TM Research & Development Sdn Bhd, the R&D arm of Malaysia’s largest telecom operator, Telekom Malaysia Berhad, has standardized the network infrastructure of its new Innovation Center on 3Com solutions and technologies. The new network replaces a legacy, multi-platform networking environment – making it easier for the TM team to manage and increasing the capacity required for the organization to test and deploy leading-edge networking technologies.

3Com’s comprehensive portfolio of networking solutions provides an ideal platform to standardize the entire network infrastructure. “From the core backbone to the floor switches, firewalls, wireless access points through to network management, we built the infrastructure from the ground up using 3Com solutions,” said Tun Kamalul Zaman, Senior Manager IT at the IT & Engineering Division. “Since most of its R&D work deals with cutting-edge networking technologies, the new network infrastructure must also be future-proofed to support existing as well as new and emerging protocols.”

Security a Priority

Due to the high level of its proprietary intellectual property and mission-critical R&D work, TM R&D wanted a robust security solution in place to complement the new network. The organization’s security solution of choice is 3Com’s industry-leading TippingPoint® Intrusion Prevention Systems. 3Com’s TippingPoint solution gives TM’s researchers confidence that their data is protected by a strong layer of internal and external security.

TM R&D’s new cutting-edge network includes the following 3Com solutions:
· 3Com® Switch 8800s – modular core switches for full redundancy and a flexible modular architecture, that delivers high performance Gigabit and 10-Gigabit switching and routing;
· 3Com Switch 5500s – stackable switches that ensure flexibility, space saving and maximum connectivity at the network edge;
· 3Com 2750 Wireless LAN Managed Access Points – make the network accessible through more than 2500 wired and wireless access points;
· 3Com Network Director – stand-alone management software suite to monitor and control the end-to-end network infrastructure.

Built with a single common operating system, the 3Com solution is easier to manage and support compared to other alternatives in the market. “Our past experience in a multivendor environment shows there will always be compatibility issues, despite what vendors claim of their equipment,” added Tun Kamalul Zaman. “Now that we’re well-versed with the 3Com solutions, we could take a do-it-yourself approach to deployment,” said Tun Kamalul Zaman. “3Com solutions were just as easy to scale and expand without requiring any specialized training.”

Marcus Lai, 3Com’s Country Manager for Malaysia, said, “Constantly providing mission-critical support to all business segments in the country, Telekom Malaysia is, in many senses, the foundation of the Malaysian economy. 3Com is proud to be actively enabling its R&D activities, incubating and rolling out next-generation services that will make the country and its businesses even more competitive.”

Testbed for new services
The R&D center must be able to support bleeding-edge technologies so researchers can both test and use them. Thus, it is expected that TM R&D will launch new services over the new 3Com infrastructure. It is already planning to roll out VoIP and other convergence technologies.

“We’re investing heavily in IPv6 and VLAN technologies, and the 3Com infrastructure can help us take them through the paces in an almost live environment,” said Tun Kamalul Zaman. “Indeed, 3Com’s technological leadership and its support for open systems and new technologies has provided the bedrock for TM R&D to become a national test bed for leading-edge networking technologies.”