Ciena Extends Packet-Optical, Adding Control Plane and Coherent Optics

Ciena is evolving its packet-optical portfolio to enable intelligent infrastructures using advanced silicon, software and switching technologies.



Specifically, Ciena is adding OTN switching to the 6500 Series and 5410 Reconfigurable Switching System, and is introducing a 2-slot variant of the 6500 Series for smaller, network edge installations, expanding customers' solution set options depending on their capability requirements at particular network sites.



Ciena is also adding its optical control plane to the 6500 Series for enabling multi-domain (metro and core) automated mesh provisioning and restoration, operated-defined service levels and 99.9999 percent service availability across its large installed base.



In addition, Ciena is adding "WaveLogic" coherent optical processors to the 5400 Series. This capability was previously announced on the 4200 Series.



At the network and service management layers, Ciena is introducing OneControl Unified Management System which offers cohesive visibility and control of wavelength, OTN and packet services from the edge access through the network core.



Ciena said that by integrating these intelligent switching, optical control plane and coherent optics innovations across multiple packet-optical products, it will provide an applications-optimized portfolio that offers maximum flexibility for their next-generation core and metro networks. The company noted that it now has more than 20,000 OTN switches deployed.



"As more content and applications are delivered as a service to hyper-connected consumers and business users with multiple devices, it only highlights the value of the optical layer in networks and the critical need for them to be more scalable, dynamic and reconfigurable – and OTN switching is a key centerpiece of enabling that network vision," stated Steve Alexander, senior vice president and chief technology officer, at Ciena.http://www.ciena.com