ZTE Launches Its ZXR10 T8000 IP Core, Joins the Multi-chassis Router Club

| Sep 9, 2009 | Carrier Infrastructure | Competitive Intelligence Report

| Analyst: Glen Hunt

Current Perspective: Positive
Vendor Importance: High
Market Impact: High

Event Summary

September 9, 2009 -- ZTE launched its T8000 multi-chassis IP super-core router to support massive flat IP bearer networks for leading service providers. The system is based on its own networking silicon innovations, freeing it from reliance on merchant silicon to deliver high-capacity IP bearer services for core and metro networks. The system is generally available this month, and it will initially support 40G interfaces (100G future) and provide up to 12.5 Tbps of capacity (204.8 Tbps future).

Analytical Summary

• Current Perspective: Positive on the launch of ZTE’s new ZXR10 T8000 (T8000) multi-chassis IP core router, because it addresses a growing requirement to support higher-scale IP core and metro networks, which are being driven by the need to build integrated multi-service infrastructures in support of network convergence, the growth in interconnect density, and massive increases in high-bandwidth video traffic. ZTE’s new router is based on its in-house-designed ZXRIC silicon chipset that provides the scaling and flexibility to support up to the next wave of IP bearer network requirements.

• Vendor Importance: High to ZTE, because the T8000 demonstrates its ability to innovate and satisfy the needs of major service providers as they build flatter and higher-scale IP bearer networks. Furthermore, the investment in its own next-generation networking chipset enables it to deliver higher performance and differentiated capabilities without reliance on merchant silicon vendors. ZXRIC is comprised of a three-chip set that establishes a flexible platform from which ZTE will be able to deliver 40G/100G wire-speed forwarding, a 600 Gbps switch fabric, and scalable traffic management capabilities all under its control.

• Market Impact: High on the core IP router market, because the new router architecture gives ZTE the means to compete in the super core space alongside the major market share holders. The T8000 delivers a per-chassis capacity of 3.2 Tbps and supports 10G/40G (and, ultimately, 100G) interfaces; when clustered, it will be able to deliver 12.8 Tbps when configured in a 1+4 mode and ultimately up to 204.8 Tbps in a fully configured 16+64 mode. Multi-chassis router solutions are becoming more pervasive in order to address the massive growth in large service provider core and metro networks. The T8000 enables ZTE to better compete with vendors such as Cisco, Juniper, and Huawei – all of which have released and are delivering multi-chassis router solutions.

CLIENTS ONLY

Current Perspective

Competitive Positives and Concerns

Recommended Vendor Actions

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Recommended Competitor Actions

• Cisco should note that its CRS-1 has shipped over 3,200 units to over 300 service providers since its launch in 2004. In addition, Cisco should note that it has shipped over 250 multi-chassis systems to more than 25 service providers, indicating that the scalability supported by the system is being leveraged by providers to meet the growth requirements of their core networks. Cisco should consider updating its messaging around the system’s massive scalability and its roadmap to support 40G and 100G services.

• Juniper should highlight its 3.2 Tbps T1600, TX Matrix Plus, and JCS1200, which enables service providers to collapse multiple IP overlay networks onto a single multi-chassis router that can scale up to 25 Tbps of routing capacity with all interfaces, routing, and high-availability features ubiquitously supported by its JUNOS-based operating system. Juniper should also note actual TX Matrix Plus deployments and that 100GigE interfaces were announced in June 2009 with a targeted general availability of mid-2010.

• Alcatel-Lucent, which has been super-core-agnostic, should make sure that its IP product portfolio interoperates with the T8000 and can be leveraged to enhance its TPSDA-based solutions. Alcatel-Lucent should also point out that its 7750 Service Router (7750 SR) is deployed as the core solution in multiple networks, and it will support 100 Gbps per slot performance, based on its already-fielded 100G FP2 silicon. Alcatel-Lucent should also provide a longer-term capability roadmap for the 7750 SR that extends beyond its release 8.0.

• Huawei should tout the maturity of its NE5000E cluster router by highlighting that its strategic partner, Shaanxi Telecom, successfully deployed a 5 Tbps configuration to address customer demand for higher bandwidths and to provide the foundation for future network evolution. Huawei should also update the NE5000E roadmap to show how it will move to greater 10GigE densities and provide support for 40G/100G interfaces to better leverage the added scale of its 10 Tbps-capable multi-cluster offer as well as its ultimate 64-chassis capacity.

• Brocade should highlight the capabilities of its XMR 32000, which delivers up to 128 10GigE and 640 GigE non-blocking ports, putting its performance level for a single chassis as one of the highest. In addition, it delivers 3.2 Tbps of data forwarding capacity in a very green environment. Brocade could assert that, with the capacity of the XMR, a multi-chassis model is not currently required for its target markets.

Recommended End User / Customer Actions

• Tier 1 service providers should evaluate the capabilities offered by ZTE’s new T8000 router for applications where a super-core node provides the best solution for traffic growth, network topology, or services architecture. Service providers should press ZTE for guidance with respect to cluster configuration options (1+4, 2+8, 2+2, etc.) to determine the best allocation of resources to meet their service delivery requirements.

• Service providers that need higher-speed Ethernet connectivity and are currently using technologies such as Link Aggregation Group (LAG) should evaluate the merits of leveraging a single 40GigE (100GigE future) high-speed interface in lieu of configuring multiple 10GigE interfaces to achieve the necessary bandwidth. Service providers should consider the merits of deploying 40 GigE (even if on a limited basis) to ease capacity barriers while waiting for the general availability of standards-based 100 GigE, which is expected in the mid-2010 timeframe.

• Service providers using IP core routers from other vendors, and which have a projected need for more than 10G interfaces, should press their suppliers for a delivery roadmap for their 40G/100G solutions and evaluate the new T8000 router. Service providers should also look to their suppliers to offer seamless integration between their IP core router-based network, their edge network, and their optical transport networks to gain additional network simplicity, visibility, and resiliency.

• Service providers should press their suppliers to aggressively push the cost points of their solutions downward to enable them to leverage the more capable 40G/100G solutions in the 2010-2011+ timeframe or sooner depending on their unique needs. Cost-effective solutions will enable providers to adopt and support cloud computing and virtualized network models to meet the needs of future applications.

CLIENTS ONLY

Current Perspective

Competitive Positives and Concerns

Recommended Vendor Actions

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