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Ciena Delivers Seamless 40G Transport Upgrade to FlexSelect Architecture as Universal Solution for Metro, Regional, Long-Haul and Ultra Long-Haul Networks

In-service upgrade for CN 4200 FlexSelect Advanced Services Platform and CoreStream Agility Optical Transport System also offers cost-effective foundation for 100G networking

Ciena® Corporation (Nasdaq: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced the Company’s FlexSelect™ 40G Shelf, a universal solution to transition metro, regional, long-haul and ultra long-haul networks to 40 Gbps while providing a migration path for 100G networking. Complementary to the installed based of CN 4200™ FlexSelect Advanced Services Platforms and CoreStream® Agility Optical Transport Systems and in alignment with the Company’s specialization in practical network transition, Ciena’s FlexSelect 40G Shelf delivers a seamless, cost-optimized approach to 40G migration with the ability to enable in-service upgrades of granular 40G wavelengths alongside existing 10G wavelengths.

Generally available and already deployed in advanced networks, the FlexSelect 40G Shelf is an integral part of Ciena’s approach to transitioning DWDM networks to 40G and eventually 100G. The addition of the FlexSelect 40G Shelf to Ciena’s FlexSelect Architecture offers network operators the ability to transport 40G traffic and upgrade current infrastructure to address bandwidth demands arising from the dramatic growth in residential triple play, streaming IP, business services and other high-bandwidth applications. Ciena began 40G research and development in 2000, and has since participated in multiple live industry demonstrations and field tests. In anticipation of customer demand, all of Ciena’s optical transport systems, including CoreStream Agility and the CN 4200, were made 40G-ready by 2005.

"Bandwidth demands and 40G interfaces on routers are driving network operators to migrate their 10G networks to support 40G wavelengths in order to increase capacity and network efficiency,” said Eve Griliches, program manager, IDC. “Ciena’s approach is appealing since it leverages installed equipment and management systems for in-service upgrades to 40G, allowing operators to deploy 40G wavelengths alongside existing 10G wavelengths for a flexible network migration that is driven by real demand.”

The FlexSelect 40G Shelf features eight slots that support hot-swappable and wavelength-provisionable line cards with client interfaces including serial 40G for SONET, SDH and OTN, as well as 10G-multiplexed interfaces for SONET/SDH/OTN/Ethernet. The FlexSelect 40G Shelf also features full ITU G.709 OTN support, so when combined with Ciena’s unique FlexiPort technology, OTN extensions and hybrid ROADM capabilities, it enables unmatched efficiency in aggregating, grooming and switching traffic from 10 Mbps up to 40G. In addition, the ability for network operators to add 40G wavelengths to 10G networks eliminates the need to re-engineer their networks for 40G transport and drives significant CAPEX and time-to-revenue savings. The FlexSelect 40G Shelf employs advanced modulation format and dispersion compensation technology that brings engineering rules similar to those used for 10G wavelengths to 40G wavelengths, thereby allowing non-40G fiber plants to be used.

“DWDM is one of the foundation technologies of this company, so we realize customers make decisions based upon much more than speed alone – they want seamless, lower-cost network migration paths combined with integrated management and intelligent automation,” said Steve Alexander, chief technology officer at Ciena. “Our in-service 40G migration strategy underscores the key principles of our FlexSelect Architecture – to give customers flexible and modular solutions for building and managing transport networks that reduce costs while empowering them to migrate networks and services at a pace driven by their business needs.”

Further reducing costs and simplifying network management, the FlexSelect 40G Shelf is fully integrated into Ciena’s ON-Center® Network and Service Management Suite that offers network operators a unique set of software tools for efficient service deployment, proactive network management and service-level management. Combined with the FlexiPort programmable optical interfaces and sub-wavelength grooming and aggregation, customers can provision, manage and monitor 10/100 Mbps up to 40G services from one location with complete service transparency.

About Ciena’s FlexSelect Architecture
Ciena's FlexSelect Architecture is the aggregation of strategic technologies that, when integrated, create a software-defined, service-selectable network for automated delivery any mix of high-performance packet services, like Ethernet and IP, as well as traditional circuit-based services—all side by side. FlexSelect combines remotely-programmable hardware, standards-based control plane technology, and service-oriented management functionality to allow service providers to transition their existing networks—at a pace that directly aligns with revenue opportunities—into flexible delivery platforms for converged OTN, SONET/SDH, Ethernet, storage and video services with premium performance metrics.