Fujitsu Network Communications has attained over 75% market share for Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers (ROADMs), according to figures from RHK cited by the company. The product category is defined as a platform that offers single wavelength granularity, optical layer protection with sub-50 ms switching times, automated per-channel dynamic gain equalization, and favorable engineering rules that let carriers shrink network Capital Expense (CAPEX) requirements. The market is being driven by metro WDM builds, including metro core/regional interoffice capacity adds, triple play services, video distribution, broadband and mobile backhaul, and enterprise applications such as business continuity and storage. The early adopter market for ROADMs has been fueled largely by North American-based Multiple System Operators (MSOs) looking to support cable TV broadcast distribution, Video on Demand (VoD) and data services. RHK forecasts that sales of current, third-generation ROADM-based metro Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) products will grow steadily to account for over 40% of the total $1.6B metro WDM market by 2009.
Fujitsu's FLASHWAVE 7500 platform has been deployed by North American MSOs and Japanese carriers. The FLASHWAVE 7500 metro WDM portfolio comprises three configurations:
- The FLASHWAVE 7500 Core System is an all-optical ROADM designed for large metropolitan networks that require up to 40 wavelengths of 10 Gbps capacity per wavelength to satisfy existing traffic demands and provide plenty of capacity for future network growth.
- The FLASHWAVE 7500 Small System offers the added flexibility of deployment with or without the ROADM switch fabric. Available in a 16- or 32-channel version, the FLASHWAVE 7500 Small System is a low cost way for carriers in small- to medium-sized cities to converge existing networks, while offering the scalability to accommodate future growth.
- The FLASHWAVE 7500 Extension System provides a compact and lowest cost solution for delivering the benefits of DWDM transport to the edge of large networks. As a stand-alone platform or extension from a larger network, the system can be cost-justified with just a few wavelengths.
