Enhanced Dutch network provides high-capacity and flexibility for research and education initiatives, improves links to international research communities
LINTHICUM, Md., U.S.A. and UTRECHT, the Netherlands — 05/19/2011
Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ:CIEN, news, filings), the network specialist, and SURFnet, the organization that runs the research and education network of the Netherlands, today announced an agreement to enhance its optical network, including support for full photonic flexibility and the deployment of 100 Gbps on international links connecting the Netherlands to research communities like CERN in Switzerland. The upgrade project is based on Ciena’s ActivFlex 6500 Packet-Optical Platform equipped with WaveLogic™ coherent optical processors and ActivSpan Common Photonic Layer, and will create a high-capacity and fully agile next-generation network with ROADM functionality.
SURFnet supports more than one million education and research users across the Netherlands. Its existing mixed 10G/40G optical backbone – built by Ciena – is one of the most advanced networks in the world, enabling a collaborative environment for the Dutch research and education community and its peers worldwide. In December 2010 SURFnet awarded Ciena a contract to continue building the current SURFnet optical network, which will include advanced coherent optical solutions that allow SURFnet to expand and enhance its network by upgrading capacity and adding full photonic flexibility to the core infrastructure.
“State-of-the-art networks are critical to supporting today’s e-Science applications. Advanced research requires collaboration within and across national borders and routinely involves petabytes of data being transferred between different facilities for analysis. The agreement with Ciena enables SURFnet to continue offering a large-scale, flexible and high-capacity network. This allows the research and education community to achieve scientific breakthroughs by facilitating innovative experiments in life-changing fields – from applied physics to medical research. Further upgrades of the network’s photonic capabilities will provide the bandwidth and flexibility required to support such activities and meet the requirements of the next phase of our GigaPort 3 project – called SURFnet7 – cementing the way for a new Ethernet layer,” said Bram Peeters, head of network services at SURFnet.
Ciena’s ActivFlex 6500 platform is capable of delivering a total throughput of up to 8.8 Tbps on a single fiber pair. It supports both coherent 40G and 100G transmission, allowing SURFnet to gradually scale its network as requirements change. Combined with Ciena’s ActivSpan Common Photonic Layer, the solution supports ROADM functionality throughout the network, enabling SURFnet to add or drop wavelengths at any point in the network via remote configuration and providing full agility to adapt the network as needed for greater performance and cost-efficiencies.
“Research and education institutions are often the early adopters and leading users of next-gen technologies to advance their scientific endeavors. Not only do they quickly prove the true capabilities of such advanced network technologies, they also translate that into real-world value with discoveries across multiple disciplines,” said Francois Locoh-Donou, Ciena’s vice president and general manager, EMEA. “Enhanced by more than ten years of dedicated research and development in custom silicon, purpose-built for managing high-speed optical signals, our leading packet-optical transport solutions provide SURFnet the unparalleled ability to dramatically scale its network capacity and improve its performance so that they can continue to push the boundaries of research.”
The pioneer and market leader in coherent technology for optical transmission, Ciena offered the industry’s first commercially-available systems – with coherent 40G deployed since 2008 and coherent 100G since 2009 – and has shipped in excess of 7,000 coherent 40G/100G line interfaces to more than 80 customers across the globe with more than 5.5 million coherent kilometres deployed. Research and education organisations using Ciena equipment include RENATER (France), CANARIE (Canada), Internet2 (US), and JANET (UK).
About Ciena
Ciena is the network specialist. We collaborate with customers worldwide to unlock the strategic potential of their networks and fundamentally change the way they perform and compete. With focused innovation, Ciena brings together the reliability and capacity of optical networking with the flexibility and economics of Ethernet, unified by a software suite that delivers the industry’s leading network automation. We routinely post recent news, financial results and other important announcements and information about Ciena on our website. For more information, visit www.ciena.com.
About SURFnet
SURFnet is the National Research & Education Network (NREN) organization in The Netherlands. SURFnet develops and provides innovative services for education and research in the field of a hybrid network infrastructure, trusted identity and a pioneering collaboration environment. SURFnet provides access to these services to over one million users in higher education and research in The Netherlands. SURFnet is part of SURF, the collaborative organization for higher education institutions and research institutes, which are together working on breakthrough innovations in ICT. More information can be found at www.surfnet.nl/en/.
Note to Ciena Investors
Forward-looking statements. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof; and Ciena’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied, due to risks and uncertainties associated with its business, which include the risk factors disclosed in its Report on Form 10-Q, which Ciena filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2011. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Ciena’s expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and “would” or similar words. Ciena assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Nicole Anderson
Ciena Corporation
(877) 857 -7377
pr@ciena.com
Investor Contacts:
Gregg Lampf
Ciena Corporation
(888) 243 6223
ir@ciena.com
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