Wednesday, November 2, 2005

Tropic Networks Names David Orr as Chairman

Tropic Networks, a developer of Wavelength Tracker powered DWDM systems, named David Orr as is Executive Chairman.


Before joining Tropic Networks, Mr. Orr was an operating partner at JP Morgan Partners. Previously, he served as CEO and President of Alcatel North America from 1991 to 1997, CEO and President, Broadband Technologies from 1998 to 2001, and CEO and President of Metro-Optix, which was acquired by Xtera Communications in 2003.
http://www.tropicnetworks.com

  • Tropic Networks, which is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, developed a Reconfigurable OADM (ROADM) that enables service providers to remotely reconfigure add and drop capacity at each node. Tropic's system features an advanced optical layer management technology called "Wavelength Tracker".

  • In April 2005, Tropic announced that Scientific-Atlanta had agree to resell and support its intelligent wavelength transport platform to cable operators on an OEM basis.


  • In July 2004, Alcatel made an equity investment in Tropic Networks, a start-up offering metro-area optical networking gear. In addition to the financial investment, Alcatel also entered into a global agreement to market and distribute Tropic Networks products and technology. Financial terms were not disclosed.


  • Tropic Networks was founded in May 2000 by Kevin Rankin, formerly co-founder of the Broadband Copper Access division at Newbridge Networks; Dr. Dan Oprea, former senior architect at Nortel Networks and Mitel; Dave Coomber, former assistant VP of xDSL at Newbridge Networks; and Ben Bacque, co-founder of the Broadband Copper Access division at Newbridge Networks.