Qtera Successfully Demonstrates First All-Optical Networking Solution in Qwest Communications' Next-Generation Network Field Trial.
Cambridge Telecom Report, Nov 29, 1999 pNA
Qtera Corporation, a leading developer of photonic networking solutions for the backbone of the Optical Internet, successfully completed a field trial of its photonic networking system with Qwest Communications International (Nasdaq: QWST).
This trial is part of Qwest's Next Generation All-Optical Network initiative, the first completed on the industry's only commercial, all-optical test bed. Powered by Qtera technology, purely photonic backbone networks will offer dramatically reduced capital expenditures and operating costs, simplified network architectures, rapid wavelength provisioning and much greater bandwidth compared to today's optical networks.
"We're extremely pleased to be partnering with an innovator and industry leader like Qwest," stated Fahri Diner, Qtera's President and CEO. "The flexibility and multiple fibers of Qwest's nationwide network make it an excellent fit for our long-haul, purely photonic platform.
This trial marks the beginning of a new era in optical networking, one in which 'terabits over megameters' is no longer a goal, but a reality."
"We're looking to Qtera to be a key partner in our efforts to build an all-optical, OC-192 IP backbone that will enable us to accommodate our customers' ever-increasing bandwidth demands," said Vab Goel, Qwest's Vice President of Emerging Technologies.
Qtera and Qwest have collaborated on elements of the all-optical network for more than a year. For the 30-day trial, Qtera installed a complete photonic transport system, including Dense-Wavelength Division Multiplexed (D-WDM) transmitters, receivers, optical amplifiers and optical add/drop multiplexers in Qwest's all-optical test bed.
Qtera's system carried 10 Gb/s signals 2,400 km (or 1,440 miles) without any opto-electronic regeneration.
"We are thrilled with the results of our first field test," said Bob Ade, Qtera's Vice President of Product Development. "This represents the longest unregenerated transmission at OC-192 over a service provider's existing fiber plant."
In addition to proving the maximum fiber throughput at the highest capacity over the longest distance, Qtera also demonstrated its flexible add/drop capabilities and its superior protection switching.
With Qtera's long-haul platform, carriers can add or drop any channel at any node. While most systems provide only limited accessibility for wavelength manipulation, Qtera offers 100% add/drop capability.
Qtera's system also provides unparalleled protection switching. During the Qwest trial, traffic signals were restored within 10 milliseconds, faster than SONET's 50 millisecond standard across far shorter distances. The simplicity of Qtera's network architecture enables faster restoration schemes than traditional SONET rings, regardless of the network size.
"Carriers face an incredible and rapidly increasing demand for scalable bandwidth and flexibility and they have to meet those needs while they drive cost out of the network," said Chris Nicoll, Director of Infrastructure at Current Analysis, Sterling, Virginia.
"There is a new generation of optical technology focused on photonics that is addressing the need for superscaling optical bandwidth, without superscaling the cost. Aggressive startups like Qtera are quickly bringing the new optical networking technology to market and will force the incumbent vendors to take notice. It's hard to believe that, in just 15 months, Qtera's solution has been built from scratch to the point where it has completed successful field trials with Qwest."
With the successful completion of its field trial, Qtera soon will be conducting beta trials of its purely photonic networking platform with live traffic.
Qwest Communications International Inc. is a leader in reliable, scalable and secure broadband Internet-based data, voice and image communications for businesses and consumers. The Qwest Macro Capacity Fiber Network, designed with the newest optical networking, spans more than 18,500 miles in the United States, with an additional 315-mile network to be completed by the end of the year. In addition, KPNQwest (Nasdaq: KQIP), Qwest's European joint venture with KPN, the Dutch telecommunications company, is building and will operate a high-capacity European fiber optic, Internet-based network that will span 9,150 miles when it is completed in 2001. Qwest also has completed a 1,400-mile network in Mexico. For more information, please visit the Qwest Web site at www.qwest.com.
Qtera Corporation, headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla., is a privately held company dedicated to the development of photonic networking solutions for telecommunications service providers. Qtera's solutions provide a greatly simplified, purely photonic backbone for the Optical Internet -- free of bandwidth restrictions and spatial boundaries. Qtera's scalable architecture enables unparalleled performance, rapid wavelength provisioning and restoration, and most importantly, lowest cost survivable bandwidth. Founded in 1998, Qtera is backed by such leading venture firms as Battery Ventures, Mayfield Fund and Oak Investment Partners. In addition to its headquarters in the heart of Photon Beach, South Florida's growing community of high-tech companies, Qtera has offices in the Telecom Corridor of Richardson, Texas. At present, the company has more than 120 employees. For more information on how Qtera is building the backbone of the Optical Internet, please visit the Company's website at www.qtera.com.
Full Text COPYRIGHT 1999 EDGE Publishing |
