COMLINK employs Cyan’s Blue Planet SDN system in new data center

Cyan, Inc. has notched up another customer for its Blue Planet software-defined network (SDN) system. COMLINK, a Michigan-based hosting and cloud services provider, has selected the Blue Planet software and Z Series family of packet-optical transport platforms to expand its core network and facilitate the opening of a new data center in Grand Rapids.

COMLINK operates a 9,000-mile upper Midwest fiber-optic network providing wholesale and business transport services at speeds up to 100 Gbps. With the opening of the new data center, COMLINK will be in a position to offer a broad array of transport and hosting services.

John Summersett, COMLINK chief operating officer, said, “We view COMLINK as a software company that happens to operate a large fiber network. As a result, software-defined networking and Blue Planet are critically important for COMLINK and its customers. In addition to reducing our operating costs and facilitating more rapid service turn-up, Blue Planet actually puts us in a position to develop our own apps, thereby giving as a powerful competitive differentiator and a way to add future value to the services we offer to customers.”

COMLINK says it chose Cyan’s Blue Planet SDN system to better orchestrate services over its complex multi-layer network. COMLINK can also use Blue Planet apps, such as Planet View, to afford its customers real-time and historical views into the operation of their services.

“COMLINK is setting the benchmark in terms of what advanced network and data center operators can accomplish by utilizing software as a means to differentiate,” said Michael Hatfield, Cyan president. “The bottom line is that they now can deliver a superior customer experience at lower costs, more rapidly, and with flexibility to evolve into the future.”

COMLINKs’ fiber network is centered in Michigan and extends into Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. COMLINK’s new data center houses the company’s Datasphere business hosting service and Medisphere medical services division. Anchored by Cyan’s 2.8-Tbps Z77 platform, the COMLINK network can deliver wavelength and Ethernet services at speeds up to 100 Gbps.

For more information on high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.