Sprint launches Ethernet Wave Service

Sprint (NYSE: S) has expanded its Ethernet Solutions portfolio to meet the high-speed and heavy bandwidth transport needs of business customers with Sprint Ethernet Wave Service. While offering simplicity through familiar Ethernet technology, the new service offers secure, always-on wireless and wireline connectivity with maximum data security and privacy, the carrier claims.

Developed as part of Sprint’s Network Vision initiative, Sprint Ethernet Wave Service delivers up to 100-Gbps speeds and high-capacity bandwidth for business applications over its fiber-optic network.

“While Carrier Ethernet is becoming a ubiquitous service provided locally and globally, Sprint’s Ethernet Wave Service offers businesses the flexibility, higher speeds and scalability needed for emerging applications,” said Mike Sapien, principal analyst with Ovum Research. “It is just as important that these services are backed by service level agreements that will deliver end-to-end performance requirements with the high-speed, high-bandwidth transport service. Sprint already has a strong market reputation in service management from our survey data, and the addition of new Ethernet transport options and additional coverage will complement their solutions portfolio.”

Sprint Ethernet Wave Service is now available in 88 U.S. markets, and expansion will continue through 2014. As a fixed, point-to-point, 100% dedicated high-speed connection, it offers 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 40 Gigabit Ethernet, and 100 Gigabit Ethernet speeds. The secure, always-on connectivity with 24x7 network monitoring helps to ensure the service is available when needed and is performing optimally, Sprint asserts. Flat-rate pricing makes planning and cost control easier, the carrier adds.

As a part of its Network Vision initiative, Sprint is using a Ciena 6500-based architecture, including delivery of 10GbE, 40GbE, and 100GbE for the Sprint Ethernet Wave Service. Sprint is leveraging Ciena’s WaveLogic 3 coherent optical processors to scale its existing infrastructure to speeds of 100 Gbps today, with the ability to scale to 400-Gbps links in future, as demonstrated in a recent field trial (see “Sprint, Ciena test 400G fiber-optic network link”).

With Ciena’s technology, Sprint has deployed one of the longest 100-Gbps circuits in the U.S. with a live transmission that required no signal regeneration over a distance of 2100 km (1304 miles). The longer distance between regeneration points provides reduced latency and hardware benefits, and improves reliability, flexibility and performance for customers. This milestone also paves the way for Sprint to deploy the 100-Gbps technology across its wireline network where demand dictates.

For more information on high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.