Lucent Technologies to build advanced optical network for Shandong Unicom in China

21 April 2003 Beijing Lightwave - Lucent Technologies today announced that it has signed a contract with Shandong Unicom, a subsidiary of China Unicom, to build a high-capacity optical network in Shandong province.

Under the terms of the contract, Lucent will provide the LambdaUnite MultiService Switch (MSS), the Metropolis ADM MultiService Mux and network management systems to significantly increase Shandong Unicom's network capacity. The backbone network will connect larger cities like Weifang and Qingdao to other cities in the province. This win marks the first time that LambdaUnite MSS will be deployed in a backbone network in China; the switch is deployed in a number of metro area network projects with other customers.

Developed by Bell Labs, LambdaUnite MSS bridges traffic between data-intense metro networks and high-speed optical core networks, connecting cities, campuses and corporate networks to larger, long-haul public networks. It enables service providers like Shandong Unicom to upgrade their networks and deliver new services such as Gigabit Ethernet. The compact size and low energy requirements of the multiservice switch allows operators to save on costs compared to traditional systems.

This single-shelf system was recently optimized for smaller metro applications, supporting in-service upgrades from 160 Gbits/sec to 320 Gbits/sec to 640 Gbits/sec. Mesh restoration capabilities were also added to help carriers migrate to new mesh-based networks, while at the same time, leveraging traditional restoration architectures.

The Metropolis ADM MultiService Mux serves as an integrated Ethernet over SDH metro access multiplexer, enabling service providers to migrate from existing TDM networks to data-aware packet networks. Shandong Unicom will be deploying the compact shelf, which enables it to carry not only voice, but also data and other types traffic.

Shandong Unicom is also deploying the Navis Optical Management Solution and the Navis Element Management System which will make it easier for them to integrate LambdaUnite MSS and the Metropolis ADM into their existing SDH network.