THUS upgrading national network with Nortel optical Ethernet
11 March 2003 -- UK communications service provider THUS plans to offer simpler, faster and more flexible Ethernet service for business customers by enhancing its optical network with optical Ethernet solutions from Nortel Networks.
Under an extension to an existing supply agreement for optical network solutions, THUS intends to upgrade its existing Nortel Networks OPTera Connect DX Optical Switches to directly carry high-density Gigabit Ethernet traffic over dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) channels.
Leveraging Nortel Networks OPTera portfolio to carry native Ethernet traffic over DWDM, THUS expects to attain increased network capacity and information integrity by combining the ubiquity, flexibility and simplicity of Ethernet with the speed and reliability of optics to remove the bandwidth bottleneck between LANs, MANs and WANs.
The THUS upgrade which involves adding only a network card to each OPTera Connect DX - is designed to provide end-to-end optical network performance by standardising on a single Ethernet transport mechanism for local area (LAN), metro area (MAN) and wide area (WAN) networks.
"A core Gigabit Ethernet capable network at the optical layer makes such concepts as 'just in time' Ethernet services across a routed platform viable," said Phil Male, chief operating officer of THUS. "Nortel Networks Optical Ethernet over DWDM technology positions us to greatly enhance our network solutions, further tailoring them to customers' individual requirements."
In addition to OPTera Connect DX, the THUS national network also includes Nortel Networks OPTera Long Haul 1600 Optical Line System.
"Ethernet is the protocol of choice for both small and large enterprise networks. Providing a platform for transparent transport of Ethernet traffic across a national network offers significant opportunities due to its 'plug and play' nature," said Peter Newcombe, president Optical Networks for Nortel Networks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.