ECI partners with GE to address utility fiber network market
ECI has struck up a partnership with GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business to jointly address the fiber networking needs of electric, oil, and gas utilities as well as transportation companies. The two companies believe they can help such utilities combine their IT and operations networks into a single converged infrastructure.
ECI and GE assert that the move to converged fiber networks is essential to improve grid efficiency, reduce downtime, lower operational costs, minimize asset risks, and increase customer satisfaction. Such networks also will position utilities to meet future business requirements in a secure and dependable manner, the partners add.
“As utilities face new challenges and embrace new technologies, we understand just how critical it is to minimize disruption while modernizing. With an extensive background in the utility sector and robust product lines that complement our offerings, we feel ECI is a well-matched partner to our goals,” said Chris Trabold, product line leader and general manager of Industrial Communications at GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business. “With the joint product portfolio, we are even better equipped to address the networking needs of utilities around the globe, especially those organizations that are building or modernizing their ICT networks.”
The joint offerings will offer utilities the option of using pure optical, MPLS-TP or IP/MPLS, or TDM based infrastructure. ECI will supply elements of its Apollo and/or Neptune family as each customer requires. GE will complement these platforms with its JunglePAX MPLS-TP system, which is designed to leverage a version of MPLS-TP optimized for utility networks that will support the transport of 64-kbps, T1/E1, and Ethernet traffic across an optical WAN.
“The rise of ICT modernization and IT/OT convergence means more companies are seeking out adaptive, future-minded solutions to help meet their networking needs,” commented Fernando Valdivielso, global vice president of sales and marketing at ECI. “ECI has been serving critical infrastructure customers around the globe for more than 50 years with our flexible technologies, and we believe this recent partnership with GE will allow us to work with a wide range of utility customers in new geographies. This is an exciting time for ECI and GE as we partner to bring solutions that help balance performance of existing assets with the inevitable network of the future.”
For related articles, visit the Network Design Topic Center.
For more information on high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.
Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.