Optical ports

The 1633 SX digital broadband crossconnect of Richardson, TX-based Alcatel Telecom has been selected to provide direct OC-12 optical-port connections at rates of 622 Mbits/sec for Micro soft`s worldwide customer-support telecommunications network supplied by US West. US West is linking the crossconnect directly to a Fujitsu Synchronous Optical Network multiplexer to eliminate unprotected electrical interconnects.

Direct OC-12 ports on the crossconnect will support Microsoft`s voice and data communications needs, and position US West to offer future broadband services running at 155 and 622 Mbits/sec. The crossconnect also provides Microsoft with the ability to reconfigure its telecommunications network.