
An older model Cisco router.
The router is designed to serve as the 'edge' aggregation services router for networks which are built around the previously-announced CRS-1 routing system. Together, the system is designed to improve both the speed and efficiency for streaming HD-video and other high-demand data laods.
According to Cisco, the routers can serve data at speeds of up to 100Mbps and have the capacity to serve some 1.2 million separate high-definition video streams at the same time.
"This platform is designed for IP [network] transformation and will be used as the carrier ethernet transport foundation for video and mobility data growth, " said Pankaj Patel, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco's service provider technology group.
"The Cisco ASR 9000 has been specifically optimized to deliver video and rich media better than any other platform on the market."
The company expects to formally release the new system in early 2009 at a starting price of $80,000.