Ciena Grows SDN/NFV Group

Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) says six new organizations have joined its Blue Orbit group, which is focused on delivering applications and infrastructure platforms for multi-vendor software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) deployments. The six new members are Active Broadband Networks, Calix, Centina Systems, Dell, Qwilt and Silver Peak.

Formed in June 2013, Blue Orbit is intended to accelerate network operator SDN and NFV deployments. Partners are added to the Blue Orbit Ecosystem based on customer demand and interactions. As customer proof-of-concept trials and deployments develop, Blue Orbit partners provide applicable solution elements to Ciena's Blue Orbit Lab. From the facility, Ciena, Blue Orbit partners and customers are able to test and demonstrate the viability of SDN and NFV solutions.