Bell Canada deploys Nokia/Alcatel-Lucent 7950 XRS core router in metro networks

Bell Canada has deployed the Alcatel-Lucent 7950 XRS (Extensible Routing System) to meet the metro requirements the operator's broadband and business services have created. The announcement is the first related to the 7950 XRS since Alcatel-Lucent became a subsidiary of Nokia (see "Nokia nears closing of Alcatel-Lucent acquisition, holds nearly 80% of Alcatel-Lucent shares").

As part of a project to create an end-to-end managed IP platform, the 7950 XRS installation will support Bell Canada's Gigabit Fibe Internet infrastructure deployment, among other uses, according to Nokia (see "Bell Canada targets Toronto for gigabit FTTH"). The service provider will use 5620 Service Aware Manager (SAM) to manage the routers. The platform's management interfaces also will help reduce overhead costs and support the programmability needed for software-defined networking (SDN), Nokia adds.

"Nokia's 7950 XRS core router aligns with Bell's strategy to lead investment and innovation in Canada's broadband network infrastructure, providing us with the network capacity, scalability and efficiency to continue delivering world-leading network performance to our consumer and business customers," according to James Gilmore, vice president of wireline technology and engineering for Bell Canada.

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