MRV adds advanced timing and synchronization to OptiSwitch

Optical transport systems vendor MRV Communications, Inc. (OTCQB: MRVC) says it has upgraded its OptiSwitch Carrier Ethernet 2.0 Service Demarcation Series with the addition of advanced and standards-based timing and synchronization capabilities. The new features position the OptiSwitch to better support service delivery within Carrier Ethernet-based 3G and 4G/LTE mobile backhaul applications and deployments.

Specifically the OS940-MBH and the OS906G-M-MBH models of the OptiSwitch now support both Precision Time Protocol (PTP) IEEE 1588v2 and Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE). The new features enable OptiSwitch users to provide mobile backhaul with assured service level agreements (SLA) for 1-Gbps and 10-Gbps converged Layer 2 Carrier Ethernet 2.0 and IP service aggregation and demarcation implementations. The new features enable the OptiSwitch Series to support both all-packet and hybrid circuit-packet backhaul applications, MRV asserts.

The enhancements are significant, according to at least one observer. "Best in class support for SyncE and PTP synchronization protocols is an important differentiator for network equipment vendors," said Patrick Donegan, senior analyst at Heavy Reading. "Some people in the industry still think it's a simple tick-box feature but it's really not. Meeting frequency synchronization requirements for mobile networks has already proved challenging for some vendors. With new time/phase requirements as you evolve through LTE and LTE-A releases of 3GPP, synchronization becomes even more challenging."

The new OptiSwitch models are also temperature-hardened (-40°C to +65°C) for operation in uncontrolled temperature environments or remote cell towers.

"With mobile data traffic forecast to double annually over the next five years, and bandwidth-hungry video likely to make up three-quarters of the traffic fuelling LTE backhaul, Carrier Ethernet is quickly becoming the dominant transport technology. Mobile operators and wholesale service providers need to accommodate unrelenting growth and ensure comprehensive end-to-end service OAM that will enable them to create new revenue streams from the delivery of SLA-based timing and synchronization services with PTP, IEEE 1588v2, and SyncE," said Tim Pillow, senior vice president of global sales and marketing for MRV Communications. "The new OptiSwitch models deliver the most advanced synchronization mechanisms with industry-leading OAM tools to ensure providers can meet their own business needs, as well as their customer demands."

For more information on Carrier Ethernet platforms and providers, see the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.