Lightower, Nortel complete 100G optical trial

DECEMBER 16, 2009 -- Lightower Fiber Networks, a metro fiber network and bandwidth service provider serving the northeast United States, has successfully tested the use of 100-Gbps (100G) technology on its existing optical network. Conducted over a period of four days using Nortel's (OTC: NRTLQ) commercially available 100G technology, Lightower sent production network traffic error-free over a 100G link spanning 600 km from New York to Boston.

The technology used is the same as the Verizon 100G deployment announced earlier December 14. The approach leverages coherent technology, DP QPSK modulation, and advanced electronic digital signal processing techniques.

Earlier this year, Lightower upgraded its optical infrastructure to 40G speeds using Nortel technology (see "Northeast US carrier opts for 40G from Nortel"). Lightower was the first service provider in the region to offer a 40G bandwidth service for carriers and large enterprises, the two companies say. For the 100G trial, Lightower inserted 100G line cards into its existing Nortel Optical Multiservice Edge (OME) 6500 platforms at each end of the network connection.

"The remarkable success of this 100G trial showcased that the Lightower network is ready and able to support the growing bandwidth demands of customers," said Jason Campbell, senior vice president, Lightower Fiber Networks. "This in-service trial with Nortel has clearly demonstrated that the Lightower optical network is truly 100G ready and that scaling from 40G to 100G is as simple as adding a card. Lightower is now in a leadership position to be one of the first providers in the Northeast to support a 100G solution."

As with Lightower's existing 40G network, the 100G trial was powered by Nortel's OME 6500 along with its 40G/100G Adaptive Optical Engine technology. Lightower's 40G optical network now spans over 2,000 fiber km across major metro areas in the Northeast, and the 100G trial demonstrates Lightower's ability to quickly increase network bandwidth by 2.5 times to meet customer demand.

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