ECI has launched the Apollo OPT9904X, a part of its OTN switching line. The Apollo OPT9904X is designed to apply OTN switching capabilities to efficiency challenges unique to metro networks with variable demand.
OTN switching can increase network efficiency and decrease overall costs as optical networks demand continues growing. According to ECI, the Apollo OPT9904X enables metro optical networks to deploy OTN switching where, when, and in the amount needed for efficiency and flexibility.
"OTN switching can greatly improve the overall efficiency of optical networks, which can be challenging in metro networks with varying demand where planning the location and size of OTN networking equipment becomes difficult," said Jimmy Mizrahi, ECI's head of global portfolio. "The Apollo OPT9904X is our OTN switching option designed specifically to meet these needs, and we've already had our first orders. It joins our bigger 9914 and 9932 platforms to offer scalable OTN switching capacity where and when it is needed in a network, end-to-end from metro access to core."
5G and increased IoT demand will soon require metro networks that have improved intelligence and can handle latency sensitive applications, which OTN switching can facilitate, ECI says. The OPT9904X offers an expandable OTN interface and switching block that can be deployed on an as-needed basis, the company adds. The OPT9904X offers a "fabric-less" design that aims to provide seamless switching capacity expansion in 200-Gbps increments up to 800 Gbps per shelf, scaling up to 1.6 Tbps in the future. ECI says the OPT9904X also integrates packet services, which leads to savings by aggregating Layer 2 traffic and minimizing the amount of router ports.
ECI says the OPT9904X also provides benefits such as:
· Tailoring the right amount of switching where needed most.
· Flexibility to transport services among high-speed lines without restriction.
· Maximum fill of 100-Gbps wavelengths for increased network efficiency.
· "Pay as you grow" capability.
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