Infinera asks, what's your network efficiency quotient?

To promote the benefits of integrated OTN switching and WDM – attributes of its DTN-X platform – Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN) has introduced the concept of a network efficiency quotient (EQ), plus a handy way to measure it.

As the term implies, EQ is a way to describe the efficiency of a network’s architecture and relate that efficiency to total cost of ownership (TCO). Infinera now offers a pair of tools on its website that measure and predict network EQ. The EQ Estimator is a 10-question survey that participants can take anonymously to determine their network EQ as Infinera defines it. The EQ Power Analyzer measures power efficiency across four 100-Gbps network scenarios. If you want more details on how to improve your network’s efficiency, you can discuss it with an Infinera representative via EQ Engagement.

As Infinera Senior Director, Corporate Communications Mark Showalter described it, a network with a high EQ features limited stranded bandwidth enabled via high-speed, high-capacity multifunction transport platforms. Infinera sees OTN switching as the best way to minimize stranded bandwidth; integrating this capability within the transport platform, rather than using a standalone system, saves space, power, and operational expense, the company says.

At least one Infinera customer buys the premise. “Through several years of deploying and maintaining Infinera technology across our optical transport network we have enjoyed the improved network efficiencies enabled by a system that combines OTN switching with Photonic Integrated Circuit-based WDM optics,” said Randy Nicklas, senior vice president and chief technology officer at XO Communications. “By working with Infinera, we’ve been able to realize the benefit of increasing wavelength efficiency while reducing space and power consumption compared to alternative solutions.”

“Our recent “OTN Deployment Strategies: Global Service Provider Survey” showed that 75% of operators plan to deploy OTN switching in their networks and more than half of these desire OTN switching integrated with WDM,” added Andrew Schmitt, principal analyst, optical at Infonetics Research via an Infinera press release. “Operators plan to deploy OTN switching in combination with WDM in order to improve network efficiency and lower network lifecycle costs. I’m pleased to see that Infinera has developed a framework that will help operators evaluate their architectural choices.”

While users of the EQ Estimator and EQ Power Analyzer can remain anonymous, Showalter says that Infinera plans to retain the data these tools gather with an eye toward issuing reports on network efficiency.