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Entries in optical systems (6)

Monday
Jul122010

ROADMs: reconfigurable but still not agile

Briefing: Dynamic optical networks

Part 2: Wavelength provisioning and network restoration

How are operators using reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) in their networks? And just how often are their networks reconfigured? gazettabyte spoke to AT&T and Verizon Business.

Operators rarely make grand statements about new developments or talk in terms that could be mistaken for hyperbole. 

“You create new paths; the network is never finished”

Glenn Wellbrock, Verizon Business

Click to read more ...

Friday
Jul092010

Still some way to go

Briefing: Dynamic optical networking 

Part 1: The vision .... back in 2000

I came across this article (below) on the intelligent all-optical network. I wrote it in 2000 while working at the EMAP magazine, Communications Week International, later to become Total Telecom.

What is striking is just how much of the vision of a dynamic photonic layer is still to be realised.  Back then it had also been discussed for over a decade. And bandwidth management, like in 2000, is still largely at the electrical layer.

And yet much progress has been made in networking technology. But the way the network has evolved means that a more flexible photonic layer, while wanted by operators, is only one aspect of the network optimisation they seek to reduce the cost of transporting bits.

Click to read more ...

Wednesday
Jun092010

Alcatel-Lucent reveals its 100Gbps-coherent hand

 

It would be irresponsible of any system vendor to overlook a solution that can bring a cost advantage to their customer”

 

Sam Bucci, Alcatel-Lucent

 

 

What is being announced?

  • Alcatel-Lucent has a commercially available 100Gbps optical transmission system.
  • 40Gbps coherent transmission is also supported.

Click to read more ...

Tuesday
Jun012010

Ciena post-MEN

Ciena has been busy since completing the acquisition of Nortel’s Metro Ethernet Networks (MEN) business back in March.

 

“The 40G and 100G technology were key to the deal and we made sure that the core team was still there”

 

Tom Mock, Ciena

 

 

 

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Thursday
Jan212010

Optical core switching tops 4 Terabit-per-second.

After the launch of Alcatel-Lucent's 1870 TTS optical core switch, three experts comment.

Event:

Alcatel-Lucent has launched its 1870 Transport Tera Switch (TTS) that has a switch capacity of 4 Terabits-per-second (Tbps). The platform switches and grooms traffic at 1Gbps granularity while supporting lightpaths up to 100Gbps.

“It is designed to address the explosion of traffic in core networks, driven by video and the move to cloud computing among others,” says Alberto Valsecchi, vice president of marketing, optics activities at Alcatel-Lucent.

The 1870 TTS supports next-generation Optical Transport Network (OTN), carrier Ethernet and SONET/SDH protocols, as well as generalized multiprotocol label switching/ automatically switched optical network (GMPLS/ ASON) control plane technology to enable network management and traffic off-load between the IP core and optical layers.


"It [the 1870 TTS]  is designed to address the explosion of traffic in core networks"

Alberto Valsecchi, Alcatel-Lucent

 

Click to read more ...

Sunday
Dec272009

Jagdeep Singh's Infinera effect 

Jagdeep Singh, who has led Infinera from a start-up of three to a 1000-staff public company, is stepping down in January.

Talking to gazettabyte, he reflects on the ups and downs of being a CEO, his love of running, 40 Gigabit transmission and why he is looking forward to his next role at Infinera.

 

"We are looking to lead the 40 Gig market, not be first to market.”

Jagdeep Singh, Infinera CEO

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