Services Providers Take Advantage of Cisco Optical Networking Portfolio

HostReview.com
Friday, December 16, 2005; 08:54 AM

Cisco Systems announced successful deployments of hardware release 5.0 for its Cisco ONS 15454 and ONS 15600 optical networking platforms at two telecommunications service and one Internet exchange providers, who are using the technology to more effectively deploy profitable services.

"We linked our facilities to give our customers the ability to 'virtually' cross-connect with one another as if they were co-located within the same four walls," said Ali Marshi, CIO and vice president of engineering for Switch and Data.

Recent expansions of two of its data center facilities in New York City-based "carrier hotels," vaulted Tampa-based Switch and Data into the position of largest interconnection provider in New York City servicing enterprises, telecom carriers, content providers, Internet service providers (ISPs) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers.

Switch and Data deployed the Cisco ONS 15600 Multiservice Switching Provisioning Platform (MSPP) enabling integration of its metro core and edge networks, while providing carrier-class robustness and management throughout the network.

The Cisco ONS 15600 MSPP combines the functionality of multiple Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SONET/ SDH) metro systems, including multiplexers, and digital cross-connect network elements together into one scalable, easy-to-use platform that supports all metro topologies, such as: point-to-point, linear add/drop, rings, and mesh.

Norlight Telecommunications -- a Brookfield, Wis.-based full-service telecommunications provider of high-quality, wholesale network transport solutions -- has recently expanded its network to 4,150 miles by lighting optical fibers along a 347-mile corridor in Central and Northern Illinois, improving telecommunications access and reliability for its wholesale customers.

"Norlight operates an extensive network utilizing a combination of Cisco MSPP and DWDM technologies to deliver bandwidth solutions at more than 70 points-of-presence," said Bob Rogers, Norlight senior vice president.

Wisconsin Independent Network (WIN), an Eau Claire, Wis.-based company, is using Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) technology to support video distribution over Gigabit Ethernet, as well as for a statewide network initiative.

WIN has also successfully completed an upgrade of its network by installing a Cisco ONS 15454 MSTP including Cisco's reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) platform. Cisco System's ROADM technology utilizes international private-leased circuit (iPLC)-based technology to provide total wavelength Add, Drop or Pass-through flexibility at any ROADM-enabled node. WIN has found that the Cisco intelligent DWDM solution has simplified network maintenance and accelerated service delivery.

The Cisco optical networking portfolio is a part of Cisco's Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN), an architecture that enables telecom services providers and internet exchanges -- such as Switch and Data, Norlight and Wisconsin Independent Network -- to migrate and deliver services to IP-based networks.

"Telecom service and Internet exchange providers are under increasing pressure to take advantage of their existing infrastructures, yet find additional growth opportunities," said Surya Panditi, Cisco vice president and general manager, Access/Aggregation Business Unit.