BTI Systems Propels CTS Telecom’s Transition to Next-Generation Gigabit Packet Optical Services

BTI’s Carrier Ethernet Solutions Enable CTS to Deliver Advanced High Capacity Services to Businesses as well as Education and Government Sites

Orlando, Florida, April 13, 2015

BTI Systems, a market-leading provider of cloud and metro networking software and systems to content and service providers around the world, today announced that CTS Telecom has completed the transition of its network to a next generation packet optical infrastructure with BTI’s Ethernet Business Services solution. Announced today at COMPTEL PLUS Business Expo 2015, this strategic initiative enables CTS to deliver high-value Carrier Ethernet services to its rapidly growing base of customers in the corporate, healthcare, education and government markets.

CTS Telecom is a leading provider of advanced telecommunications services to businesses in western Michigan. With 2,000+ business and residential customers and owning more than 1,000 miles of fiber, CTS offers a range of traditional and advanced services, including Ethernet-to-the Cloud, Ethernet network services, high-speed optical wavelength services and private optical networks.

Understanding that Ethernet is the driving force behind the growth of the Internet and IP networking, CTS deployed BTI’s converged packet-optical systems and software, replacing its entire legacy Wave 7 passive optical network. Capitalizing on BTI’s Carrier Ethernet portfolio has enabled CTS to provide 1GE to 10GE Ethernet business and cloud connectivity services over the CTS Fiber Network. By selecting a fully integrated, end-to-end MEF CE 2.0-certified solution, CTS is now able to rapidly deliver innovative high-performance Ethernet-based services to its customers that meet the most stringent Service Level Agreement (SLA) requirements.

“We have broadly deployed high bandwidth 1GE and 10GE connectivity services to enterprise, healthcare, education and government sites,” said CTS President Stacey Hamlin. “We chose BTI’s Ethernet Business Services solution to enable higher bandwidth rates and rapid scaling of our network as well as the service differentiation that our customers demand. Importantly, by transitioning our infrastructure, we’re also able to extend our service offerings to include next-generation Ethernet-to-the-Cloud connectivity.”

“BTI’s solutions have been game-changers for us as we see unprecedented growth in bandwidth demand,” continued Hamlin. “With BTI, we can take whatever comes at us and adapt rapidly to new technologies and market demands.”

BTI’s Ethernet Business Services solution is comprised of a fully integrated portfolio of MEF CE-certified systems and software. This includes the BTI 7000 Series packet optical platforms, the BTI 800/700 Series Ethernet access platforms; and the BTI proNX Control Software and associated applications. CTS has widely deployed the BTI 7000 Series, the most compact, modular and easy-to-use packet optical networking system available. Purpose-built to unify packet and optical service delivery into one platform for network-layer consolidation at the service edge, the BTI 7000 Series integrates MEF Carrier Ethernet 2.0-certified switching, 10G WDM optical layer and 4 Degree ROADM Dynamic Optical Layer to simplify network deployment and operations.

Additionally, CTS has deployed the BTI 800 and 700 Series Ethernet access platforms to meet their customers’ bandwidth and performance demands. The BTI 800/700 Series comprise compact, multiservice, carrier-grade platforms designed to deliver Ethernet, or Ethernet and TDM-based connectivity for enterprise business and wireless provider mobile backhaul service applications with a small form factor, low power requirements and temperature resilience.

The BTI proNX Control Software is a highly scalable, centralized SDN-architected software platform providing end-to-end service management, comprehensive SLA assurance and open interfaces for applications control. The BTI proNX enables CTS to manage a large and growing multilayer network that is geographically dispersed across hundreds of sites – while accelerating the delivery of services to its customers.

“This strategic network transition has allowed CTS to differentiate its offerings by scaling innovative high-speed services rapidly to a fast-growing customer base,” said BTI Senior Vice President of Global Marketing Sally Bament. “A highly valued and innovative BTI customer widely recognized as a committed regional provider, CTS is capitalizing on our packet-optical systems and software to compete more effectively in a market that’s moving to a service-based economy with enterprises competing on a global basis. We look forward to our continued partnership with CTS – enabling them to continually optimize and advance their network so they can take full advantage of future growth opportunities.”