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Contents Honey, I Shrunk the ROADM – Tellabs Introduces 7100 Nano OTS| Analyst: Jason Marcheck | Optical Infrastructure | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 19, 2007 – Tellabs introduced the 7100 Nano optical transport system (OTS), a smaller version of the company’s existing 7100 OTS platform. Designed to enable increased network flexibility in support of video services, the new platform features ROADM capabilities, and a 120 Gbps switch fabric that is capable of switching either TDM or packet data. Tellabs also says the product can be field deployed in two hours. The 7100 Nano OTS is expected to be available in Q4 2007. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Very positive on Tellabs’ introduction of the 7100 Nano OTS, because the small form factor optical transport platform – which contains ROADM capabilities – should provide a greater degree of deployment flexibility and cost savings for operators that need to increase transport flexibility throughout their networks in support of advanced video services. However, Tellabs is by no means the first company to offer a compact multi-service transport platform, meaning the company might do well to focus on the integrated ROADM capabilities to differentiate its new offer. • Vendor Importance: Very high to Tellabs, because the move fills out its next-generation optical transport portfolio with a platform aimed at metro edge and access networks. In doing so, the company can stake a claim to being one of the leading providers of ROADM capabilities throughout the metro – from access to regional core. What’s more, it helps to bolster the attractiveness of the Tellabs optical transport solution as an enabler of the advanced video services that will be a critical driver of carrier interest in next generation optical transport platforms like the 7100 OTS solution. • Market Impact: Moderate to high on the optical infrastructure market, because the 7100 OTS already gained valuable measure of credibility via its inclusion in Verizon’s FiOS build-out. Now, with an easy to deploy, smaller form factor that gives operators the flexibility to extend ROADM capabilities beyond the metro core the 7100 OTS solution becomes even more attractive to operators – and more threatening to competing optical infrastructure vendors. Towerstream Adds Oakland to Its Roster of Metros| Analyst: Brian Washburn | Business Network Services - U.S. | Client Access |
Announcement Summary
June 18, 2007 – Towerstream plans to expand its San Francisco area fixed wireless broadband network to the Oakland metro area, enabling the company to offer its wireless services to businesses on both sides of the San Francisco Bay. The carrier plans to start turning on services for customers in July 2007, including T1, T3, 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps connections. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Slightly positive on Towerstream’s extending its fixed wireless services to Oakland, California because the extension is driven by demand from customers that have become familiar with the carrier’s services from its San Francisco operations. Towerstream only offers its own business services in eight metros, and the company needs to bolster its headcount if it expects to become a serious competitor in business services. • Vendor Importance: Low to Towerstream, because the company still has very little penetration in the eight metros where it provides business services to date. Expanding fixed wireless service from San Francisco into Oakland expands the carrier’s addressable market, but with only about 22 salespeople in mid-2007 – though the carrier is hiring additional sales briskly – Towerstream still has a long ways to go to take advantage of its existing network footprint. • Market Impact: Very low on competing service providers, because Towerstream has a low-profile presence in the metro areas it serves to date. Towerstream has targeted some of the biggest Tier 1 cities for its business services, including New York City, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles. In the major metros, the incumbent local carriers, their CLEC competitors, cable competitors and third-party competitive access providers all are far more influential to the competitive environment than Towerstream. Tekelec and HP Team with BEA for “IMS in a Box”| Analyst: Steve Byars | Carrier IP Telephony | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 19, 2007 – Tekelec announced the expansion of the HP-Tekelec Open IMS solution to include BEA WebLogic SIP Server, a converged JAVA EE-SIP-IMS application server. The addition of BEA WebLogic SIP server provides a service creation and execution environment designed for converged Internet-IMS communication and collaboration services. The total solution also includes the Tekelec TekCore Session Manager (a CSCF), HP OpenCall (an HSS), service enablers, and integration with back-office and legacy systems to enable the delivery of subscriber-centric services across wireless, wireline, and broadband networks. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Slightly positive on the BEA-HP-Tekelec Open IMS solution, because with the addition of BEA, the solution now includes crucial service creation and delivery capabilities within an overall IMS portfolio. Service delivery platforms (SDPs), including service creation and execution environments, have become an increasingly vital part of most vendors’ propositions to accelerate the ability of carriers, systems integrators and independent ecosystems to customize and deploy new services in both IMS and non-IMS domains. The newly combined solution draws on the capabilities of three highly respected companies, each with a significant installed base in the telecoms and/or IT arenas. However, this alliance is only the latest addition to a long list of similar partnerships, and Tekelec is lagging behind most solutions providers in forming and announcing such a partnership. • Vendor Importance: High to Tekelec, because it needed to round out its IMS solution with a high-profile SDP that already has significant mind share with top-tier service providers. Despite Tekelec’s leading position in SS7 signaling solutions, it has fallen behind mega-vendors such as Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks and Alcatel-Lucent in the migration to IMS. In addition, the three partners needed to develop the “IMS in a Box” demonstration to show the overall solution’s ability to incorporate innovative applications from third-party developers. • Market Impact: Moderate on the softswitch, hosted multimedia applications server, and IMS market segments because BEA already has similar partnerships and interoperability with a number of solutions providers, including Italtel, BroadSoft, Huawei, and NEC. In addition, this solution will not be available until later this year, giving competitors ample time to respond. Having said that, service providers will take note of the new partnership due to the combination of BEA’s ability to enable new applications together with Tekelec’s signaling platform, already embedded in many of their networks. Service providers, faced with decreasing revenues from legacy services and increasing customer churn, are looking for ways to host new applications from their networks. The BEA-HP-Tekelec solution promises to enable these new applications without a wholesale network overhaul. Sycamore Increases Switching Capabilities for SN 16000| Analyst: Jason Marcheck | Optical Infrastructure | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 18, 2007 -- Sycamore Networks announced that it is doubling the switching capacity of its SN 16000 platform (essentially taking it from 1.28 Tbps to 2.5 Tbps). The vendor also indicated that it is incorporating ASON capabilities into the platform. The vendor did not indicate if the new features are generally available now or scheduled for a future release date. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective:Neutral on Sycamore Networks’ announcement that it is increasing the switching capabilities of the SN 16000 to 2.5 Tbps, because while increased interest in carrier Ethernet, IPTV, and so forth is forecast to drive capacity requirements up in all portions of the network, it remains unclear when and where operators will need to deploy 2.5 Tbps of optical switching capacity. So, while it might help to “future-proof” Sycamore’s bread and butter offering, it is debatable whether or not it addresses a pressing need of operators today. At the same time, there is no denying that ASON support will become an increasingly important feature to help simplify network operations as TDM-to-packet migrations continue. Toward that end, Sycamore took an important step in keeping its platform on the leading edge of market requirements. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to Sycamore Networks, because the SN 16000 is clearly the company’s bread and butter. Without the SN 16000, it is a near certainty that Sycamore would not exist in its current form today. As such, keeping the product positioned as one of the most capable core optical switching platforms on the market holds obvious strategic importance to the company. At the same time, rather than bulking the switch up with capacity additions that are unlikely to hold widespread appeal (at least in the short-run), the company might have been better off looking for ways to expand its addressable market, instead of protecting its existing niche. • Market Impact: Low on the optical infrastructure market, because there is little evidence that a 2.5 Tbps core optical switch is high on the wish lists of optical network operators. In fact, most competing products are still hovering in the 640 Gbps range, and carriers are talking more about distributing switching capabilities toward the edge of the network. Toward that end, the fact that Sycamore beefed up a switch that was already considered adequately scalable is odd at best, and it should not pose any new challenges that Sycamore’s competitors will struggle to address. At the same time, ASON support is something that most vendors need to address, though nearly all have the feature on their product roadmaps. Turin Announces Carrier Ethernet Solution; New Product Feature| Analyst: Jason Marcheck | Optical Infrastructure | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 18, 2007 – Turin Networks announced iConnect, the company’s solution strategy for the migration of Ethernet service delivery and transport. The iConnect solution uses the vendors Traverse, TraverseEdge and Traverse PacketEdge product lines and is designed to enable the delivery of Ethernet services over copper or fiber at rates ranging from DS-1 to 10 GbE. Separately, the company announced the availability of 10 GbE interfaces for the Traverse Multi-Service Transport Switch. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Slightly positive on Turin Networks’ introduction of the iConnect Carrier Ethernet solution, and 10 GbE support in the Traverse optical switching platform. Addressing TDM to packet migration has become a must for all metro optical equipment providers. Addressing the issue from both a solution and product feature point of view on the NXTcomm stage makes a strong statement on Turin’s part that the vendor is evolving its portfolio to keep pace with market requirements. At the same time, its unclear how the iConnect solution improves on what already exists in Turn’s arsenal. • Vendor Importance: Very high to Turin Networks, because although the vendor has managed to remain relevant in the face of increasing competition from much larger vendors, there is no denying that in order to stay competitive Turn must keep its product offering on the cutting edge of customer requirements. Addressing TDM to packet migration and carrier Ethernet service delivery might not be revolutionary, but it does leverage a lot of what Turin already has in its product portfolio - thus allowing Turin to address carrier Ethernet from a solution perspective without adding a lot in the way of R&D expense on new hardware development. • Market Impact: Low on the optical infrastructure market, because while Turin helped its own cause with its NXTcomm announcements, it did little to add capabilities that nearly every optical equipment vendor is not already addressing in their own portfolios. Thus, while the announcements will almost certainly help to keep Turin competitive in its market niche (i.e., Tier 2/3 operators), the moves require little, if any, direct response from competing equipment manufacturers. Allot Launches Its 10 Gbps DPI Service Gateway| Analyst: Glen Hunt | Carrier Infrastructure | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 18, 2007 – Allot announced the availability of its next generation DPI solution targeted toward service providers that need a scalable solution that provides a full 10 Gbps of DPI performance in a carrier grade platform. The new Allot Service Gateway leveraged the capabilities of its predecessor and is ready to support other network applications such as security, P2P caching and Session Border Control. The new gateway is built on standards-based ATCA platform for investment protection. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on Allot’s announcement of its new carrier grade Service Gateway, since it establishes a basis to deliver highly scalable deep packet inspection (DPI) services. The platform also offers industry-standard hardware (ATCA) as well as an open software architecture to form the basis to offer a multifunction solution by hosting additional third party network applications. Allot’s DPI provides support for true 10 Gbps (full duplex). • Vendor Importance: High to Allot, because the Service Gateway positions the company, which has established credibility in the DPI market segment, to move further into the service provider’s network architecture. It is now better positioned to become the vendor of choice for high performance DPI, and to host other applications such as session border control (SBC), security, P2P and DDos protection. The scalable Service Gateway can act as the central device in the network that can provide the interface between the network layers and the primary service provider functions such as billing, customer care, Radius/DHCP and others. • Market Impact: High on the various access and control markets that are dominated by best of breed single function network appliances and servers. With the ATCA based Service Gateway, Allot can better scale its DPI solutions (up to 25 Gbps) and leverage its NetXplorer to act as a primary interface into the service provider’s OSS/BSS systems for DPI and related network functions. Allot will need to build an ecosystem of third party vendors that will integrate their solutions into its Service Gateway platform to establish the multiservice proposition. Wave7 Looks for FTTP High Tide with GPON/EPON Proposition| Analyst: Erik Keith | Broadband Infrastructure | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 13, 2007 -- Wave7 Optics, a supplier of fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband network equipment for residential and business services, announced support for ITU-T G.984 Gigabit-capable passive optical network (GPON) standard networks via its Trident7 Universal Access Platform. Wave7 asserts that the Trident7 is the industry’s only FTTP platform capable of delivering standards-based EPON (IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile standard) and GPON triple play services from a common platform. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Neutral on Wave7’s enhancement of its Trident7 Universal Access Platform with GPON capability, because despite now supporting both standards-based GPON and EPON from one FTTP platform (i.e., the Trident7 solution), this “dual-PON” approach is not likely to give Wave7 a real boost in customer/market traction. In addition, Wave7’s GPON debut, at this point, is simply one of the many GPON-related announcements in conjunction with and ahead of NXTcomm 2007. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to high to Wave7, which needed to incorporate GPON support into its flagship platform in order to have a fighting chance of survival in the high-potential but acutely competitive FTTP market. In the FTTP market, every degree of differentiation is vital, especially as operators evaluate very similar, standards-based PON solutions; as such, Wave7’s EPON+GPON proposition has the potential to separate Wave7 from its closest rivals. • Market Impact: Low to moderate on the overall FTTP market, since Wave7 is a relatively small contender within both the North American and global FTTP sectors, and the lack of a customer endorsement/win also limits the impact of this announcement. Even with the dual-PON proposition, Wave7 is unlikely to cause pain for the more established broadband access vendors in terms of customer/market penetration. Aepona Enables VCC for Wireline and Broadband| Analyst: Steve Byars | Carrier IP Telephony | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 13, 2007 -- Aepona announced its new voice call continuity (VCC) solution for wireline and broadband service providers. Aepona provides a VCC solution that supports call handoff and integrates with service providers’ existing services and OSS/BSS systems. Its solution provides operators with the ability to implement their fixed-mobile convergence strategies. Moreover, the solution addresses the process of continuing a voice (or video) call as a user moves between an IP-based access network that supports VoIP and a mobile network. The company did not provide pricing and availability. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Neutral on Aepona’s voice call continuity (VCC) solution for wireline and broadband service providers, because while the solution is now directed toward a new market segment, the announcement’s lack of specifics may impede Aepona’s ability to generate interest in its demonstration at NXTcomm 2007. Aepona’s VCC solution is based on its existing Universal Services Platform (USP), promising seamless call handoff plus close integration with OSS/BSS systems. However, it did not include a reference-customer deployment, despite the company’s extensive customer traction with its USP. • Vendor Importance: High to Aepona, which needed to expand its addressable market beyond just mobile operators looking to provide cellular/WiFi roaming. Aepona had announced a solution for cellular-to-WiFi roaming in February 2007 and demonstrated it at 3GSM; however, the lack of a massive installed base of dual-mode handsets is an issue that will slow the growth of this application for some time yet. This release directs the company’s VCC solution to the fixed-mobile convergence strategies of wireline and broadband IP providers. Even so, this release does not clarify what types of mobile handsets can be supported or the extent to which wireline operators need a cooperative relationship with a mobile operator. • Market Impact: Low on both the IMS market and the FMC segment, because the announcement does not contain anything that will surprise Aepona’s competitors. In fact, the announcement is so similar to the one Aepona released in February 2007 addressing mobile operators that it will cause rivals to question if anything is new. However, Aepona’s ability to demonstrate the technology at NXTcomm 2007 indicates that the software is functional and developed beyond the conceptual phase. If Aepona can attract wireline and broadband service providers to its demonstration, the ensuing discussions could bear significant fruit. Atrica Launches Its QoS-enabled Ethernet Demarcation Platform, the A-1180| Analyst: Glen Hunt | Carrier Infrastructure | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 14, 2007 -- Atrica announced the A-1180 multi-port carrier Ethernet demarcation device, which enables end-to-end service delivery across third-party networks as well as Atrica-based networks, with quality of service (QoS) control on a per-service basis, backed by management simplicity. The A-1180 has eight 10/100Base-T Ethernet interfaces on the customer network side, each of which provisions an Ethernet virtual circuit (EVC) that can correspond to a specific customer service. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on Atrica’s announcement of its new A-1180 multi-port carrier Ethernet demarcation device, since it enables end-to-end service delivery across third-party networks, as well as Atrica-based networks. The A-1180 supports multiple services at the customer premises and offers separate QoS control for individual services. The device is supported by its ASPEN service management platform, which was specifically designed for carrier Ethernet metro networks and operates across all Atrica gear. The ability to support differentiated services and maintain the quality of service at the customer premises enables service providers to offer more granular services with assured delivery. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to Atrica, since the new A-1180 offers service providers the ability to extend Atrica devices into the customer premises to support multiple 10/100 Base-T Ethernet services over Fast Ethernet (FE) or GigE uplinks. The move also expands Atrica’s value proposition as the “Carrier Ethernet Company,” since the A-1180 complements its other access and aggregation devices, which are all managed under the company’s ASPEN management system (which received the IEC’s 2007 InfoVision Award in the “metro transport and services” category). • Market Impact: Moderate on the Ethernet access and aggregation markets, since the new A-1180 will provide separate QoS for multiple services, which will enable service providers to offer more granular Ethernet services on an end-to-end basis. The A-1180 provides support for eight 10/100 Base-T subscriber ports per device, which will satisfy the requirements of sub-GigE services at customer sites. For higher bandwidth and greater service resiliency, Atrica offers the A-2100 Ethernet edge switch. American Fiber Systems (AFS) has selected the full Atrica Ethernet product line for its Ethernet-based service delivery network, including the A-1180, which shows positive customer uptake for the portfolio in a highly competitive market segment. What’s New in GENBAND’s New G9 Converged Media Gateway?| Analyst: Steve Byars | Carrier IP Telephony | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 12, 2007 – GENBAND announced the G9 Converged Media Gateway, a flexible wireline and wireless media gateway designed to work with any softswitch of CSCF. It supports a wide range of interfaces and features for unlicensed mobile access (UMA), UMTS, GSM, and CDMA wireless networks for both access and core, and wireline and converged network operators. It supports 3GPP Release 4/5/6 as well as the major wireline protocols. Optimized for IP network deployments, the G9 platform is based on the worldwide market share leading 8000 platform. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Neutral on GENBAND’s new G9 Converged Media Gateway because the advantages and differentiation of the new platform compared to the 8000 are not promoted sufficiently to be apparent. The G9 has reduced cost structure and is more open to interoperability with partner-provided softswitches, but these advantages over the 8000 will only be recognizable to those intimately familiar with the older gateway. Saying the G9 “shares the same exact software load” with the 8000 further obscures openness as a new advantage for the G9. GENBAND’s full-spectrum portfolio does signal to the world that media gateways are the company’s focus, and does further the company’s efforts to leverage this openness into partnerships that can provide end-to-end solutions for top-tier carriers. • Vendor Importance: Very high to GENBAND, which needed to proclaim its open softswitch strategy in order to develop partnerships with the top-tier equipment vendors and incorporate the new G9 into their end-to-end solutions. The existing 8000 is tightly integrated with Alcatel-Lucent’s 5020 Wireless Call Server for mobile applications, and has been deployed extensively because of this integration. Whether or not Alcatel-Lucent chooses to integrate the G9 into its mobile/wireless solution, GENBAND needed to communicate that its media gateway portfolio is softswitch-agnostic in order to engage other partnering prospects. • Market Impact: Moderate on the media gateway market, as the new G9 offers an improved cost-structure and provides an enhanced level of openness compared to the 8000. However, these advantages have yet to be proved, as the gateway is still in trials. Potential partners are likely to wait and see customer traction before incorporating the G9 into their end-to-end convergence solutions. Infinera Unveils 40G and IQ4.0 to Support Better Performance Monitoring| Analyst: Jason Marcheck | Optical Infrastructure | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 14, 2007 – Infinera will unveil its 40 Gbps strategy and new 40 Gbps module for the DTN transport platform at NXTcomm 2007 in Chicago. The new module maps a 40G circuit over four 10 Gbps wavelengths, and can be deployed in any existing DTN chassis already in service. The vendor also announced new updates to its IQ network management system that, among other things, incorporates the ability to do performance monitoring of point-to-multipoint services. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Neutral on Infinera’s release of a 40G TAM card, because the solution, which maps a 40G service over four 10G wavelengths, represents only marginal improvement over what carriers could already do with the Infinera DTN system. The upside, however, is that Infinera can claim to support 40G without the adding the expense of supporting advanced modulation schemes required to support a single 40G wavelength. • Vendor Importance: Low to Infinera, because the new module allows the company to claim that its DTN system supports 40G capabilities. However, because the Infinera’s solution still requires the dedication of four wavelengths in order to carry the 40G circuit, the new offer does not result in any improvements in wavelength utilization, and it still requires a customer to pre-deploy 100 Gbps of capacity – neither of which represents an improvement over what the DTN could do in the past. • Market Impact: Low on the optical infrastructure market, because to be blunt, Infinera’s new 40G capabilities result in an improvement to the vendor’s marketing collateral as much as it represents a dramatic improvement in the actual DTN platform. Thus, while Infinera will claim to enable a cost effective brand of 40G that is more in tune with its customers’ needs, the fact is that mapping 40 Gbps of traffic over four 10G wavelengths is far from a novel development. Acme Packet Brings Professional Services Features to its SBC Solution| Analyst: John Marcus | Telecom Infrastructure Services | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 13, 2007 – Acme Packet launched Net-ASSURE premium professional services, designed to optimize the Net-Net session border controller’s (SBC) delivery of interactive IP communication services. A set of planning, testing, implementation procedures, and support coordination services were announced, including: Performance and Scalability Benchmarking, Configuration Optimization, Method of Procedure (MOP) Development, Customer Program Manager, and Certified Interoperability Testing. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on Acme Packet’s launch of the Net-ASSURE portfolio of new professional services, because it will augment the vendor’s Net-Net session border controller (SBC) solution with various performance management features, while responding to customer demand for premium, post-deployment support. Equipment vendors of all sizes are productizing professional services as a means of demonstrating, marketing, and profiting from the human value-add involved in delivering a complete solution, and the new offering from Acme Packet will increase its competitiveness. • Vendor Importance: Low to moderate to Acme Packet, because the new portfolio of Net-ASSURE services, while going beyond basic support, is tied to specific products and therefore more of a feature than a product in its own right. The company already has a professional services team that provides pre-installation services, such as planning, consulting, network engineering and design, as well as installation and network integration services. A Technical Assistance Center (TAC), based at its Burlington, Massachusetts headquarters, provides post-installation support services, such as technical support. The newer Net-ASSURE network optimization-related services add another layer of value-added features to its SBC solution, to be delivered by the existing organization, staffed by 40 services professionals. • Market Impact: Low on the vendor professional services market, because the new Net-ASSURE portfolio of services from Acme Packet is tied to very specific products, and therefore, specific-vendor product sales. This is, however, a very good example of how smaller vendors can use professional services to differentiate their offerings in the face of some rather large vendor services organizations, now operating almost as separate businesses, as well as independent system integrators. Carriers and operators maintain smaller and smaller network planning and operations staffs, while demanding solutions that speed their own time-to-market with new services. In this environment, even the smallest platform vendors can secure business, please customers, and make money from packaging premium, human-based resources and competencies. Transmode Adds MicroROADM to TM-Series Platforms| Analyst: Jason Marcheck | Optical Infrastructure | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 14, 2007 – Transmode announced that it will launch a new ROADM offering to be incorporated into its TM-series of optical transport products at NXTcomm 2007 in Chicago. The module, branded “mROADM” is based on WSS technology and can be implemented via single slot plug-in into existing TM-series chassis. The vendor also announced that it will be introducing tunable transceivers into its product catalogue. Both products will be generally available at the end of June 2007. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on Transmode’s launch of the mROADM (a microROADM aimed at deployment in metro edge networks), because as the demand for reconfigurability in metro optical networks increases, ROADM capabilities have become a required component of a metro WDM solution. Transmode’s release adds an additional element of flexibility into the Swedish vendor’s portfolio, and does so in a way that meshes well with Transmode’s core value proposition: cost-effective optical transport. At the same time, most metro ROADM demand is focused on the core of the network, meaning that the requirement of ROADM at the edges of the network might be a ways off from materializing. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to high to Transmode, because the mROADM gives the vendor a credible claim to a unique ROADM offering. However, the fact is that the launch is aimed more at anticipating future demand, rather than coming up to speed on meeting today’s metro edge requirements. As such, while the mROADM undoubtedly makes Transmode’s TM-series platforms more complete, ultimately, it does not dramatically change the vendor’s approach to the market. • Market Impact: Moderate on the optical infrastructure market, because the continued proliferation of services with diverse bandwidth requirements at the edge of the network (i.e., IPTV, VoD, Carrier Ethernet, etc) will gradually extend reconfigurability requirements from metro core out to metro edge, and maybe even metro access networks. Coming to market early with a microROADM aimed at edge networks should give Transmode a mature, proven platform when demand becomes widespread. At the same time, component vendors such as JDSU have already unveiled mini ROADM fabrics, which are available to any of Transmode’s competitors – meaning when the market is ready for edge ROADMs, the technology will be available from multiple sources. Ceterus Networks Devices Earn MEF 9 and MEF 14 Certification| Analyst: Glen Hunt | Carrier Infrastructure | Announcement Summary
June 13, 2007 -- Ceterus Networks announced that the Metro Ethernet Forum has certified three of its Ethernet universal transport systems for compliance with MEF 9 and MEF 14. The certifications are defined by the reliable delivery of services, including EPL (Ethernet private line), EVPL (Ethernet virtual private line), and E-LAN (Ethernet local area network). The certifications apply to its UTX8212 multi-service cross-connect as well as the UTS-810 and UTS-1530 multi-service delivery platforms. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Neutral on Ceterus Networks’ announcement that the MEF has certified three of its Ethernet universal transport systems for compliance with the MEF 9 and MEF 14 service specifications, because MEF certification has become table stakes for Ethernet service delivery platforms. By itself, this certification does not provide a major differentiation that will separate the company from other Ethernet transport vendors. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to Ceterus, since earning MEF 9 and MEF 14 certification declares to the market that its universal transport platforms can be leveraged to deliver Ethernet services with the requisite performance metrics for carrier-grade applications as spelled out in the specifications. A third-party test lab, Iometrix Laboratories, performs certification testing for the MEF, per stringent MEF guidelines. • Market Impact: Low to moderate on the Ethernet access and aggregation markets, since the certification shows that the Ceterus products are compliant with the MEF specifications, which is a near-mandatory requirement for carrier-grade equipment. The testing enables Ceterus to highlight that its cross-connect and its access platforms are compliant and, therefore, its end-to-end solutions meet MEF guidelines for Ethernet service delivery. Ceterus did not highlight a specific service provider that is leveraging the product as a result of the certifications. Ciena Updates FlexSelect Portfolio, Operationalizes 40G Transport Capabilities| Analyst: Jason Marcheck | Optical Infrastructure | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 11, 2007 -- Leading up to NXTcomm 2007, Ciena announced the availability of the FlexSelect 40G shelf, which allows Ciena customers to implement 40G at any place in metro, regional, long-haul, and ultra long-haul networks via an extension shelf that can be added to the CN 4200 and/or the CoreStream Agility platforms. Ciena pointed out that the system enables both 10G and 40G wavelengths to be transported over the same fiber and that the product is already deployed in customer networks. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Slightly positive on Ciena’s addition of the FlexSelect 40G Shelf to its optical transport portfolio, because the vendor’s module approach allows Ciena customers to add 40G capabilities at any point in the network without having to swap-out existing network elements. At the same time, deploying a whole new shelf adds power requirements, and it could result in additional footprint (where fully populated racks already exist), which would nullify some of the OpEx efficiencies claimed by Ciena. • Vendor Importance: High to Ciena, because the company is primarily known as an optical networking vendor, and it has tooted its own horn as a 40G development leader. With 40G showing up in an increasing number of competing solutions, Ciena needed to operationalize its own solution in order to avoid falling behind the market. However, by introducing the ability to provision both 10G and 40G wavelengths on the same fiber, Ciena folds an additional dimension of flexibility into its offer that should resonate with carriers that are looking to protect existing investments in 10G capabilities. • Market Impact: Moderate on the optical infrastructure market, because Ciena has always relied on innovation as a hallmark of its value proposition. Toward that end, the FlexSelect 40G Shelf again demonstrates that, when Ciena brings a new capability to its portfolio, it tries to do so in a way that differentiates its offer from the competition. At the same time, 40G is not exactly a novel concept, which means that, regardless of how Ciena implements the feature, most competitors can claim similar capabilities. GENBAND Goes Outdoors with G2 Compact Media Gateway| Analyst: Steve Byars | Carrier IP Telephony | Client Access
Announcement Summary
June 12, 2007 – GENBAND announced the G2 Compact Media Gateway, a small form factor, hardened media gateway providing packet line and trunking MG capabilities for fixed and cable carriers. The G2 supports GENBAND’s open softswitch strategy, allowing carriers to utilize the call control of their choice, whether for fixed wireline or cable applications. Supporting 24 to 720 simultaneous DS0 sessions per chassis, the G2 platform is designed for deployment in smaller locations, including outdoor cabinets. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Slightly positive on GENBAND’s new G2 Compact Media Gateway, which broadens the company’s media gateway portfo |
