Luminous Networks, a start-up based in Cupertino, California, expanded its portfolio of resilient packet ring (RPR) metro optical transport products with the launch of a new, low-cost multiservice transport platform for 1 Gbps or 2.5 Gbps rings. Like Luminous Networks' existing M-series (metro core) and C-Series (metro access) platforms, the new PacketWave E500 leverages RPR layer 2 technology to integrate Ethernet and TDM services using ring architectures that are cheaper and more bandwidth-efficient than SONET/SDH. RPR is being standardized in the IEEE 802.17 working group. The standard is now in the final stages of ratification. Luminous Networks' new E500 platform (list price starts at $15K) provides eight 10/100 ports plus two expansion slots for customer-facing Gigabit Ethernet ($3K) or 24-port T1 / 21-port E1 modules ($3.5k). Applications for the E500 include T1/E1 TDM services, Ethernet-based private line or VLAN services, or MPLS-based Ethernet and IP VPNs.
Luminous Networks said it just completed its third consecutive quarter of sequential growth and that it is on track to reach profitability in 2004. The company has shipped over 900 boxes and 30,000 ports to date. Sales traction has been especially strong in China, where the company has announced deployments with China Netcom among others. China Netcom is deploying Luminous' metro platform in nine cities, including Shanghai, Dalian, Guangzhou, Foshan, Shunde, Mianyang, Quanzhou, Shaoxing, and Jiaxing.
http://www.luminous.com
- Scientific-Atlanta and Luminous Networks offer a joint RPR solution targeted at cable operators. Scientific-Atlanta OEMs the Luminous platform and provides Asynchronous Serial Interface (ASI) and Intermediate Frequency (IF) video cards that plug into the metro optical access platform. This enables operators to centralize MPEG management, modulation and encryption functions for broadcast digital video applications at the headend. The ASI digital video broadcast (DVB) card, based on the ASI standard, supports the transport and interconnection of MPEG-2 transport streams. The Intermediate Frequency (IF) card provides transparent regional distribution of analog or digital video service over long distances.
- Luminous Networks has raised over $148 million in funding to date. Strategic investors include Scientific Atlanta, Samsung, Hakuto, CiT, MorganStanley, Vanguard Ventures and others.
- Luminous Networks was founded in June 1998. The company is led by Alex Naqvi, formerly VP and General Manager at Chips and Technologies.
