February 5, 2002 -- Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc., (Richardson, TX) announced industry-leading capabilities for its existing FLASHWAVE® 4300 platform to allow further optimization of bandwidth efficiency and profitability of a carrier's metro access networks.
FLASHWAVE 4300 is a multiservice, optical transport platform optimized for efficient transport in today's converged IOF network; Carriers no longer need resort to a piecemeal approach offered by single-protocol products that result in poor port densities for high-capacity applications and over-engineering for lower-rate, lower-cost applications.
The expanded capabilities, which can be added to a network seamlessly, include integrated test access and transmux for true digital cross-connect switch (DCS) capability, OC-48 BLSR (bidirectional line-switched ring) functionality, and 10/100BaseT and Gigabit Ethernet service interface modules, enable new services and increase traffic aggregation and grooming, while leveraging existing investments and decreasing operational expenses. 10/100BaseT and Gigabit Ethernet modules offer carriers the flexibility and scalability to expand their service offering and increase revenue-generation potential without the need for an additional platform. OC-48 BLSR functionality further increases profitability for carriers by allowing them to sell bandwidth previously reserved for protect traffic.
The M13 Transmux provides M13 functionality to multiplex/demultiplex DS1s to and from a DS3. In a typical hub node application, the Transmux plug-in unit can groom DS1s from access rings into DS3s, fully packing the DS3 and creating greater bandwidth efficiencies. The channelized DS3s can then be dropped to another Network Element (NE), such as a DCS, frame relay switch, ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) switch or a router.
FLASHWAVE 4300 further increases bandwidth capacity by using a combination of larger switch fabrics, the M13 transmultiplexer (transmux) and 10/100Base-T and gigabit Ethernet service interface modules. The larger switch fabric and M13 transmux combine to aggregate and groom traffic coming into the central office, creating a bandwidth-efficient handoff to the customer's core transport network. Integrated test access provides the testing and monitoring required for the FLASHWAVE 4300 to perform the functionality of a true DCS. By consolidating incoming traffic, the DCS switch fabric is used more efficiently sparing service providers the expense of purchasing new and larger DCSs. FLASHWAVE 4300 also can eliminate the need for a DCS in smaller applications.
With this release, Fujitsu also introduces one of the largest VT switch fabrics (2688 x 2688, cascadable to 5376 x 5376) available in a multiservice optical transport product. Patent-pending EPORT (an OSMINE supported Ethernet over SONET port technology that is as simple to configure as a DS3) functionality on the 10/100Base-T and Gigabit Ethernet units provide point-to-point service. Carriers are able to upgrade without interruption of their existing service.