Fujitsu EoX Gateway configuration of FLASHWAVE 9500 adds connection-oriented Ethernet

OCTOBER 13, 2009 -- Fujitsu has announced new capabilities for its FLASHWAVE 9500 Packet Optical Networking Platform (Packet ONP) to allow the system to aggregate, switch, and deliver connection-oriented Ethernet (COE) services across any type of access network (EoX). The EoX Gateway on the FLASHWAVE 9500 will benefit wholesale and retail Ethernet service providers by increasing the number of addressable customers for differentiable Ethernet and IP services, accelerating time to revenue by leveraging existing access networks, and reducing the cost and space of hub central office (CO) equipment, Fujitsu asserts.

Fujitsu says a single FLASHWAVE 9500 EoX Gateway can aggregate hundreds of thousands of Ethernet/IP circuits from hundreds of different physical access networks composed of Ethernet over SONET/SDH, T1/T3, WDM, and fiber. The new EtherMapper EoX Gateway cards and system software on the FLASHWAVE 9500 Packet ONP are designed to transparently terminate a variety of access networks, perform COE switching and grooming, and present fully protected Ethernet or SONET/SDH handoffs to other transport or service delivery networks.

The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF)-compliant EoX Gateway on the FLASHWAVE 9500 Packet ONP integrates the functionality of many network elements in central offices, hub sites, co-location facilities, and IP service edges/POPs to further reduce the space, cost, and time required for Ethernet operations, administration, and management over different types of physical access networks.

Fujitsu foresees service providers using the EoX Gateway to deliver a complete wholesale access service to their retail service provider partners by aggregating and delivering standardized MEF Ethernet services over any type of access network from a flexible ENNI to a remote UNI at the customer premises. The EoX Gateway can also be used to aggregate traffic from TDM-based 2G/3G and Ethernet-based 3G/4G mobile backhaul networks, regardless of whether the cell tower is accessed via SONET or Ethernet, the company adds.

“The EoX Gateway enables service providers to create one, common Ethernet service definition regardless of the access networks over which the service is delivered,” said Stan Hubbard, senior analyst at Heavy Reading. “This tremendously simplifies their Ethernet services portfolio, accelerating their customers' purchasing decision process and saving a lot on operational costs.”

The EoX Gateway on the FLASHWAVE 9500 Packet ONP is remotely managed using the Fujitsu NETSMART 1500 Element Management System (EMS), which is the single, unified management system for the entire portfolio of Fujitsu FLASHWAVE MSPP, DWDM, and Packet Optical Networking Platform products.

The enhanced capability is expected to be generally available in North America by the end of this year.

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