Strata Networks taps Ekinops for its optical network upgrade

Strata Networks, one of Utah’s fastest-growing communications cooperatives, has chosen Ekinops’ Ekinops360 as the platform to upgrade its optical transport network. 

Based in Roosevelt, Utah, Strata’s network extends throughout the Uintah Basin, into the Wasatch Front, and to Denver. The cooperative continues to expand and improve its fiber footprint to differentiate the phone, video, broadband and wireless services it offers to area residential and business customers.

Strata’s service area is characterized by rugged terrain and a diverse demographic, including mid-sized urban and remote rural areas. To serve all these areas and provide uniformly robust performance regardless of size or location, Strata recognized the need for a reliable transport solution to deliver scalable and cost-effective capacity.

By leveraging Ekinops360 optical solution along with 200G and 400G FlexRate™ modules and Celestis^® NMS, Ekinops’ advanced network management system, Strata can increase the scope and performance of its optical transport network, extending 100G links to its point-of-presence in Denver serving its customers in Colorado.

The Ekinops platform not only offers Strata greater capacity at a lower cost, but it also addresses sustainability issues.

Ekinops PM400FR05 uses high-power pluggable coherent optics to provide up to 400G of metro/regional connectivity capacity at a lower cost than traditional transponders. Also, Celestis NMS allows Strata complete control over its network. Celestis’ interface allows Strata to monitor, troubleshoot and upgrade services at any node from a centralized network operations center, minimizing truck rolls and helping Strata reduce its carbon footprint.

“Ekinops was able to step up and deliver everything we needed to improve our network performance so we can continue providing the quality of service for which we’re known,” said Brent Simmons, VP of technology at Strata. “We were particularly impressed with Celestis NMS and its ability to give us a level of visibility and control we didn’t have before. Its interface makes it easy to use so we can get up to speed quickly to manage the network effectively from day one.”

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