Ciena Adds Dynamic Wavelength Routing to CN 4200 FlexSelect Advanced Services Platform
Hybrid approach to ROADM with multi-degree Wavelength Selective Switching, FlexiPort and OTN offers low cost and high scalability to maximize flexibility and wavelength utilization
Linthicum, MD — 06/05/2006Ciena® Corporation (Nasdaq: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced the addition of Dynamic Wavelength Routing capabilities to its CN 4200™ FlexSelect™ Advanced Services Platform, creating the only solution that uses a hybrid electrical and optical ROADM design to combine whole and sub-wavelength switching in one platform. Through efficient electrical grooming of services onto each wavelength, the CN 4200 ROADM uses up to 78 percent fewer wavelengths and, for the first time, brings the benefits of reconfigurable optical technology to any service rate down to 155 Mbps.
Currently in early customer engagements, Ciena’s CN 4200 multi-degree ROADM is an in-service upgrade to the existing CN 4200 platform through use of a universal line card that routes any wavelength or combination of wavelengths to any port on demand. Combined with the CN 4200’s software-defined FlexiPort technology and Optical Transport Network (OTN) support, the CN 4200 delivers the most flexible ROADM solution for grooming and switching the most amount of traffic on the fewest wavelengths. The platform also cost-effectively scales capacity and degrees of switching based on customer demand and offers service level management across the entire network.
“Due to rapid growth, quality of service sensitivity and dynamic bandwidth demands, IPTV, VOD, VoIP, Ethernet, storage extension and other advanced services are forcing service providers to increase their metro bandwidth flexibility for responding to unpredictable traffic patterns,” said Jason Marcheck, Principal Optical Infrastructure Analyst at Current Analysis. “Designed to eliminate stranded bandwidth and offer full and sub-wavelength switching support down to 155 Mbps granularity, Ciena’s hybrid approach to ROADM provides a flexible way to help carriers reduce the costs to plan, groom, switch and reconfigure optical transport.”
The key element of Ciena’s CN 4200 ROADM solution is a universal ROADM line card, which eliminates the need for color-specific components and spares while still delivering any wavelength to any port at any time in any combination. Modular by design, the CN 4200 ROADM can scale up to eight degrees and uses Ciena’s ON-Center® network and services management system with point-and-click capabilities to simplify provisioning and network management.
“Building on the FlexiPort technology and OTN support on the CN 4200, the addition of ROADM functionality enables customers to build even more efficient networks, reconfigure services on demand, and reduce network complexity, while reducing spend on equipment and wavelengths,” said Steve Alexander, chief technology officer of Ciena. “The CN 4200 ROADM solution also highlights our focus on delivering product innovations that are timed to market demand as it extends Ciena’s ROADM portfolio to metro networks after we were first to market with the technology in our CoreStream platform for core networks.”
About Ciena’s CN 4200 FlexSelect Advanced Services Platform
Ciena’s CN 4200 is the flagship product of its FlexSelect Architecture, a standards-based, service-oriented approach to building next-generation network infrastructures. The CN 4200 family of multiservice transport and aggregation platforms is capable of on-demand support for any transport protocol—including SONET/SDH, Ethernet, storage (Fibre Channel, FICON, ESCON) or video—at any speed on any available port using the industry's first universal line card with individual user-programmable ports.
In less than a year since its introduction, Ciena’s CN 4200 FlexSelect Advanced Services platform has been selected by more than 40 organizations around the world, including leading telco and cable service providers, enterprises, government agencies and research and education (R&E) organizations, due to its flexibility, ease of deployment and significant capital and operational savings. The applications supported across these deployments include Ethernet private lines, VOD, broadcast video distribution, storage extension, OTN transport, among others further underscoring the multiservice flexibility of the platform.
Further information about the CN 4200 product family and FlexSelect Architecture can be found on Ciena’s web site at http://www.ciena.com/FlexSelect.
Ciena specializes in network transition. We provide the flexible platforms, intelligent software and professional services to build converged networks for enhanced services and applications. With a growing global presence, Ciena leverages its heritage of practical innovation to deliver maximum performance and economic value in communications networks worldwide. For more information, visit www.ciena.com.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof; and Ciena’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied, due to risks and uncertainties associated with its business, which include the risk factors disclosed in its Report on Form 10-Q, which Ciena filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2006. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Ciena’s expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and “would” or similar words. Ciena assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Nicole Anderson
Ciena Corporation
(877) 857 -7377
pr@ciena.com
Marie Downing
Ciena Corporation
(888) 243-6223
ir@ciena.com
