NOVEMBER 28, 2007 -- Fujitsu Network Communications (search for Fujitsu Network Communications) has unveiled enhancements for its FLASHWAVE 4100 Extension Shelf, including the addition of an OC-12 line interface unit, an integrated DS1 Network Interface Unit (NIU), DS3 transmux capabilities, and a universal 10/100/1000-Mbit/sec Ethernet card. The new hardware, like all FLASHWAVE 4100 Extension Shelf cards and chassis, utilizes all industrial-grade components to support temperature-hardened operation and extended reliability for indoor applications, the company says.
"This new release of our FLASHWAVE 4100 Extension Shelf incorporates several innovative features that simplify and drive down costs on our customer's networks," said Jim Hintze, senior vice president of marketing at Fujitsu Network Communications. "A perfect example of this innovation is the enhanced DS1 interface with integrated NIU. Many service providers currently deploy an external NIU solution to support the network and customer loopbacks required for troubleshooting. With our integrated NIU solution, the added capital expense associated with an external NIU is eliminated while also offering the benefit of reduced operating expenses through less cabling and a common network management interface. Initial feedback from many of our customers suggests this form of operation will be standard practice going forward."
The modular, 2RU FLASHWAVE 4100 Extension Shelf supports high concentrations of DS1, DS3, and Ethernet services. All industrial-grade components insure high reliability whether used indoor or in an extreme temperature environment, Fujitsu says. The FLASHWAVE 4100 Extension Shelf can operate as a standalone SONET system using dual OC-3 and now OC-12 connections in Unidirectional Path Switched Ring (UPSR), 1+1, or 0:2 configurations. The system can also work in conjunction with a FLASHWAVE 4000 Multi-service Provisioning Platform (MSPP) or FLASHWAVE 7000 WDM node to improve cost-to-value efficiency through multiplexing of up to 168 DS1 and 12 DS3 ports into optical signals.
The new universal 10/100/1000-Mbit/sec Ethernet card offers network providers the choice of Ethernet or Fast Ethernet over copper, and Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet over each of two flexible, SFP-based optical ports. The use of a common card for all Ethernet service types reduces inventory requirements without sacrificing advanced Ethernet functionality such as 1 Mbps service provisioning granularity, rate limiting, pause frame control, jumbo frame support, low- and high-order Virtual Concatenation (VCAT) and Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme (LCAS), according to Fujitsu.
The DS3 Transmux feature can reduce leased line costs for the mobile service provider by aggregating multiple DS1 circuits at the cell site into a more efficient DS3 circuit to the mobile telephone switching office (MTSO). DS3 facility savings are realized when multiple cell sites share a common DS3 path to the MTSO using the DS1 grooming function to unstrand DS1s from channelized DS3s.
"The new DS3 Transmux capabilities are also ideal for relieving the design deficiencies of a traditional digital crossconnect system (DCS) that cause DS1 and DS3 capacity to be wasted," continued Hintze. "By inserting a FLASHWAVE 4100 Extension Shelf with DS3 Transmux before a DCS, DS3 circuits into the DCS can be fully utilized, which drives a capital cost, footprint and power savings. This new feature also allows the FLASHWAVE 4100 Extension Shelf to act as a stand-alone mini-DCS that can operate in any environment due to its all industrial-grade components."
The new OC-12 line interface unit offers non-blocking OC-12 service to every slot in the chassis. When fiber facilities are at a premium, optional CWDM interfaces allow multiple SONET networks to share a single pair of fibers and reduce deployment cost. In addition to UPSR and 1+1 network protection, the OC-12 line interface unit can operate in a dual working, non-protected mode to allow 1.2-Gbit/sec operation for full-rate Gigabit Ethernet service delivery.