The Cisco 12000 Series 8-Port Fast Ethernet Line Card provides an enhancement to the Ethernet-based line cards. The new card offers high-density and low-cost intra-POP connectivity between the Cisco 12000 Series and other lower-end switches and routers (such as Catalyst ® 5000, 6000, and 7500 router). Service providers will benefit from this high-density Fast Ethernet card by eliminating or reducing the need to implement and operate an intermediate layer of networking equipment between the Cisco 12000 Series and other switches and routers.