ADVA (FSE: ADV) says its version of the Telecom Infra Project’s (TIP’s) open Voyager white box packet-optical platform is now commercially available. ADVA’s version of the platform is the first to reach the market and runs on an operating system from Cumulus Networks (see “Cumulus Networks announces availability of Cumulus Linux for early access on Voyager”). Partnering with Cumulus and Celestica will enable delivery of a hardware, software, and services bundle. ADVA said working with the two companies “will be instrumental with the first customer deployments,” but did not reveal whether it had customers lined up.
"Today isn't only about delivering an industry first; it's about taking a moment to realize what everyone involved in this project has achieved," said Niall Robinson, vice president, global business development at ADVA via a company press release. "In just over two years, we've worked with multiple partners to develop a completely open and disaggregated packet optical solution that presents customers with a genuinely new and hassle-free approach to networking. Together, we've created building blocks that enable our customers to reduce costs and take much of the complexity out of their networks. Ultimately, this is what the project's always been about - openness, simplicity, and ease of use."
TIP unveiled the system, developed within its Open Optical Packet Transport Project Group, in November 2016 (see “Telecom Infra Project intros Voyager white box open packet DWDM transponder”). The multi-application platform combines packet switching and routing (including IP/MPLS capabilities) and optical transponder functions in a 1RU package. ADVA was the strongest supporter of the platform among optical transport companies who were TIP members at the time (see “TIP optical transport members vary in Voyager white box transponder support”) and has engaged in numerous trials (see, for example, “Nine customers testing TIP Voyager white box transponder: ADVA,” and “InterNexa, ADVA Optical Networking trial Telecom Infra Project Voyager whitebox packet DWDM transponder”). In a conversation at OFC, Robinson speculated that Voyager may see its first deployments in research and education networks. However, at least one major operator has tested the system this year (see "Vodafone trials Telecom Infra Project’s Voyager white box packet optical transport system").
In addition to the platform itself, ADVA is supplying a complementary open line system, network management capabilities, and such services as installation, commissioning, maintenance, and monitoring should customers request them.
"Our work with ADVA as part of TIP's Open Optical Packet Transport Project Group has been key to delivering this milestone. We're pleased to see this project evolve from a simple idea through to commercial realization," said Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, co-chair, Open Optical Packet Transport project group, TIP, and director, engineering, Facebook, in the same press release. "It will be fascinating to see how the marketplace leverages the Voyager solution and the impact it will have on the industry."
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