CenturyLink deploys 100 Gbps via multiple vendors

CenturyLink Inc. (NYSE: CTL) is the latest U.S. carrier to announce nationwide 100-Gbps capabilities. The Tier 1 service provider says it now can support 100-Gbps wavelengths across its nationwide fiber-optic backbone as well as in more than 50 metro markets. More than one vendor is supplying 100-Gbps technology to the carrier, a CenturyLink spokesperson tells Lightwave.

In addition to the U.S. deployments, CenturyLink also has added 100-Gbps capacity in its networks in Singapore and London. CenturyLink plans to add 100-Gbps capabilities to more cities outside the U.S. early next year as well.

The 100-Gbps offering is available to enterprise and wholesale customers via CenturyLink’s dedicated 100 Gigabit Ethernet Optical Wavelength Service. The carrier plans to extend the high-capacity capabilities early in 2013 to include connectivity to Savvis cloud, hosting, and colocation services; data centers; and customer business locations.

The company originally did not release the names of the systems companies whose 100-Gbps technology is being deployed. However, Sean Buckley of Fierce Telecom reported yesterday that Alcatel-Lucent's (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) 1625 LambdaXtreme Transport platform is part of the roll out. CenturyLink media relations staffer Stephanie Meisse, Buckley’s source, subsequently confirmed via email to Lightwave the accuracy of the Fierce Telecom report. “[B]ut they are not the only vendor,” Meisse wrote. “We are not disclosing the others at this time.”

The confirmation that more than one vendor is supplying 100-Gbps technology to CenturyLink is good news for those of us who speculated that the company is Infinera’s (NASDAQ: INFN) so far unidentified Tier 1 customer for the DTN-X (see “Guess that customer!”).

CenturyLink’s U.S. 100-Gbps deployment follows Verizon’s earlier announcement of its 100-Gbps roll out plans (see “Verizon to deploy 100 Gbps on three U.S. routes”). XO Communications also recently unveiled its U.S. nationwide 100-Gbps deployment (see “XO Communications chooses Nokia Siemens Networks for nationwide 100G network”).

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