Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) announced that Global Crossing (NYSE: GX) will be first to purchase the Lucent WaveStar LambdaRouter, claimed by Lucent to be the first high-capacity, all-optical switch for communications networks.
Under the multi-million dollar agreement, Global Crossing will deploy LambdaRouters in the United States and in Europe. The LambdaRouters will connect, send and distribute data traffic on Global Crossing's multi-cable, trans-Atlantic optical network. Lucent plans to begin installing the systems this month, with completion scheduled for the third quarter of this year.
Developed by Lucent's Bell Labs in 18 months, the LambdaRouter is 16 times faster than electronic switches used in communications networks and can route billions of e-mail messages every second.
At the heart of the LambdaRouter are two sets of 256 microscopic mirrors, with each set on a one-square-inch silicon base. With the aid of sophisticated software, the mirrors are tilted to reflect, or direct, wavelengths from an incoming fiber to an outgoing fiber route, thus eliminating the slow and power-consuming conversion to electrical signals in today's long-haul networks.
Global Crossing's network is a mesh-protected, trans-Atlantic network. Mesh protection is an engineering approach that protects transmission of data traffic by allotting reserve optical capacity within the existing multi-cable network in case of downtime on one or more of the optical cables.
The announcement follows Global Crossing's successful testing of the LambdaRouter last year between New York City and England. Several other Lucent customers are testing the LambdaRouter.
About Global Crossing:
Global Crossing Ltd. (NYSE: GX) provides telecommunications solutions over an integrated global IP-based network. Global Crossing provides managed data and voice products and services. For more information, visit www.globalcrossing.com or www.asiaglobalcrossing.com.
About Lucent Technologies:
Lucent Technologies designs and delivers systems, software and services for next-generation communications networks for service providers and enterprises. For more information, visit www.lucent.com.