2 July 2003 Linthicum, MD Lightwave -- CIENA Corp. today announced the availability of new features for its MetroDirector K2 platform, enabling new carrier-class enterprise data services directly over existing service provider networks.
As part of CIENA's ongoing LightWorks Services strategy, MetroDirector K2 now offers support for advanced Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) services, allowing service providers to begin offering switched and private line data and TDM services in a common platform over one integrated network--resulting in lower capital, space, power, and sparing costs while opening new enterprise market opportunities to service providers' current networks, say company representatives. CIENA also announced the availability of E1 support on MetroDirector K2 in SDH environments, enhancing its range of flexibility from DS-1/E1 to OC-192/STM-64.
MetroDirector K2 combines the functionality of add/drop multiplexers, digital cross-connects, ATM switches, and 10/100/1000 Ethernet switches into a single high-density platform, which lowers capital expenses, improves bandwidth utilization, reduces overall operations costs, and provides faster service delivery, claim CIENA representatives.
With K2's new Fast Ethernet Bridging (FEB) and Gigabit Ethernet Bridging (GEB) cards, carriers can use the platform to create and manage point-to-point and packet-switched data services in their native formats and with carrier-class quality of service (QoS) and protection. Specifically, K2's GEB and FEB cards enable a suite of new enterprise offerings over the carrier network, including Guaranteed Ethernet Private Lines, Shared Ethernet Private Lines, and Switched Ethernet Virtual LANs (VLANs).
"Carriers are looking for ways to expand their enterprise data service portfolios without having to reengineer their networks or train operations staff on entirely new processes," explains Pat Matthews, senior analyst at The Yankee Group. "The advantage that K2 brings to the network is that it offers a single platform to quickly and efficiently introduce new data services in the network environment that service providers already have and know."