Monday, September 22, 2008

Sprint Selects Ciena's Carrier Ethernet for XOHM Backhaul

Sprint has selected Ciena's Carrier Ethernet platforms as one of the backhaul solutions for its new "XOHM" WiMAX network. The deployment includes Ciena's LE-311v Service Delivery Switches, CN 5305 Service Aggregation Switches and Ethernet Services Manager, with initial installations in the XOHM networks in Baltimore/Washington and Chicago. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Ciena said its FlexSelect Architecture is well-suited to the demands of mobile backhaul, supporting 2G, 2.5G, 3G and 4G networks with a portfolio of service delivery switches, service concentration switches, service aggregation switches, mobile core transport and integrated network management.


"Our deployment in Sprint's XOHM network underscores our expertise in enabling service-driven networks with scalable capacity and cost-efficiencies using high-performance Carrier Ethernet platforms with a service-aware operating system and intelligent management -- this time applied to 4G backhaul," said Mike Aquino, senior vice president of global field operations at Ciena.


"Backhaul is a key focus area for us as we build out the XOHM network," said Doug Smith, senior vice president and chief technical operations officer of Sprint's XOHM business unit. "A next-generation, Ethernet-based architecture can optimize efficiency and give us backhaul cost advantages."http://www.ciena.comhttp://www.Sprint.com

  • In July, DragonWave announced that Sprint had selected its IP backhaul solutions for the XOHM-branded WiMAX mobile-broadband services in North America. Specifically, DragonWave's Horizon Compact and Horizon Duo products will be deployed initially in the Baltimore/Washington and Chicago markets. Financial terms were not disclosed. DragonWave's native Ethernet radios will provide Sprint's XHOM network with carrier-grade reliability, capacity, throughput and Quality of Service (QoS) for backhauling 4G traffic. The Horizon products provide software controlled scalability, ultra-low latency, wire-speed connectivity up to 1.6 Gbps full duplex, 99.999% service availability and a full suite of network management options.


  • Also in July, Mformation Technologies announced that Sprint had selected its mobile device management (MDM) solution to provide seamless device management capabilities for new WiMAX-capable mobile devices as part of the XOHM WiMAX mobile broadband initiative. Device management ensures that WiMAX devices can be remotely activated and provisioned irrespective of their source, ensuring they work seamlessly and deliver a true mobile Internet experience. Financial terms were not disclosed. Specifically, Sprint will use Mformation's advanced MDM technology to remotely activate, configure, diagnose, update, secure and manage a diverse fleet of WiMAX-capable devices throughout all phases of their lifecycle. This will ensure that services and applications are delivered smoothly across Sprint's WiMAX network, helping the company make the most of their WiMAX investments.