Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ:CIEN) and SURFnet, which oversees the national research and education network of the Netherlands, will collaborate on SURFnet7, an optical network upgrade that will add enhanced Ethernet capabilities to the research network. Ciena will supply both Carrier Ethernet switches and its OneControl Unified Management System as part of the upgrade.
The SURFnet network already leverages optical optical and packet switching equipment from Ciena (see, for example, “SURFnet adds 100 Gbps, ROADM, packet-optical transport via Ciena gear”). The SURFnet7 upgrade, part of the government-funded GigaPort3 project, focuses on flexibility and scalability in the Ethernet layer. SURFnet expects to be able to easily create and deliver tailored Ethernet services for its network users, supported by Layer 2/3 performance monitoring and troubleshooting tools, when the upgrade has been completed. SURFnet and Ciena expect to test the new Ethernet network layer later this year, then upgrade approximately 300 sites during 2012.
Ciena will supply its 5410 Service Aggregation Switch as well as 3940 and 3960 Service Delivery Switches as part of the SURFnet7 project. The 5410 supports both 40- and 100-Gigabit Ethernet traffic.
“There is an increasing need of cross-border collaboration for both education and research purposes so it is therefore essential that SURFnet has the most innovative and reliable network architecture in place,” according to Kees Neggers, SURFnet’s managing director. “Our successful collaboration with Ciena has already provided us one of the world’s most advanced coherent optical networks, which includes 100-Gbps links to our international partners. Our next objective is to provide flexible and scalable Ethernet services for our users, and I am confident that our longstanding partnership with Ciena will enable SURFnet to continue providing the Dutch academic community with the tools required for groundbreaking research.”
“Research and education networks often pioneer innovative technologies, demonstrating the value and impact they can have not only in the technology sector but also for the wider society. SURFnet’s network plays a vital role in enabling a wide range of research projects – from grid computing in applied physics experiments to real-time video conferencing in medical studies. Each application has specific requirements, while there is a shared need for highly reliable, flexible and cost-effective connections,” said Peter Newcombe, vice-president of sales, Northern and Eastern Europe at Ciena.
For more information on Carrier Ethernet equipment and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyers Guide.