Ciena has added a new hardware and software capabilities to its packet networking portfolio that allow service providers and large enterprises to rapidly roll out new 10GbE and 100GbE offerings to serve business, mobile, and content applications.
As massive volumes of data traffic from 4G/5G mobile backhaul, Ethernet business services, and IoT applications rapidly converge on data centers, network operators are pressured to quickly deploy more connections at faster speeds while monitoring and managing the performance of those connections to deliver thousands of end-user services.
To address these market dynamics, Ciena is introducing three new edge products and added more capacity to its industry-leading 8700 platform. Specifically, the new features include:
Edge Access: New 3926m is a full-featured, carrier-grade platform for 10GbE service delivery that includes an expansion slot for modules supporting third party Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). The platform is ideal for Ethernet business service demarcation supporting added functions, such as third party vRouter or vEncryptor services. Also offered is a TDM circuit emulation module to support network modernization efforts.
Edge Access: New 3928 Service Delivery Switch comprises a cost-effective 10GbE NTE that maintains the carrier-class feature set needed for efficient and reliable service delivery. Dual powered AC and DC variants with extended temperature options are available to address a variety of indoor and outdoor environments.
Edge Aggregation: New 5170 Service Aggregation Switch that enables cost-effective delivery of carrier class 100GbE services direct to the customer premise along with dense 10GbE service aggregation in a compact, 1RU form factor. The 5170 is designed with an x86 server which powers Ciena’s Service Aware Operating System (SAOS) software and its open VNF hosting capabilities.
Edge Aggregation: Adding more than double the capacity to the existing 8700 Packetwave platform in a space- and power-efficient chassis that gives service providers the scale required to rapidly and cost-effectively deploy more packet-based services. This capability is ideal for services of up to 100Gbps in support of enterprise business services, mobile backhaul and data center interconnect.
Mike Sapien, VP and Chief Analyst, Ovum
Ciena has the foresight to see where the customer trends are heading and understands what network providers must do to ‘follow where the puck is going’ to address the emerging intercept demand from bandwidth-hogging applications.
Scott McFeely, SVP, Networking Platforms, Ciena
By bringing bandwidth closer to the point of end-user demand, our new packet networking capabilities make overcoming that challenge less daunting.
