OE, AimValley Do Smart SFP

GWANGJU, South Korea -- OE Solutions and AimValley today introduced Smart SFPTM. Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) are essential for service turn-up and SLA assurance in Carrier Ethernet networks. The Smart SFPTM integrates OAM functions into conventional SFPs providing operators an effective tool for monitoring and troubleshooting Ethernet services. This solution reduces system and network complexity, and offers lower carbon footprint while generating CAPEX & OPEX savings. “The Gigabit Ethernet Demarcation OAM Smart SFPTM, which Alcatel-Lucent developed in collaboration with Aim Valley, extends our 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) solution offering,” said Sam Bucci, VP & GM, Terrestrial Optics Product Unit, Alcatel-Lucent. “The Alcatel-Lucent 1830 PSS with Smart SFPTM provides customers service visibility at the network edge demarcation in applications like Mobile Backhaul, Business Ethernet and Carrier wholesale, and is essential for rapid service commissioning and revenue generating SLAs.” Smart SFPTM provides instant support for Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM). On top of EFM Link OAM IEEE 802.3ah, the Smart SFPTM offers Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) of end-to-end Service OAM IEEE 802.1ag and Y.1731 Performance Management.

M2 Optics offers modular fiber-optic simulator

M2 Optics Inc. of Raleigh, NC, has introduced the Fiber Lab Flex Optical Fiber Testing Platform. The modular design of the fiber-optic simulator enables user to configure the platform for physical network emulation and other applications such as equipment certification. The 19-inch rack-mountable Fiber Lab Flex Optical Fiber Testing Platform accepts up to 10 removable modules to provide configuration flexibility and scalability. Each module can contain up to 10 km of any fiber type or brand and be supplied with any standard connector. The modules also can be used separately on a desktop. A fully loaded module with 10 km of fiber weighs 4.75 lbs and measures 9.5” H x 1.5” W x 11” D. Typical applications include physical network simulation with multiple fibers in the laboratory, equipment certification using a mix of fiber types, product development, quality control, and latency testing. The Fiber Lab Flex Optical Fiber Testing Platform is priced according to fiber type and length configurations. Each module can be purchased separately.

Calix to buy Ericsson's FTTH product line

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) has agreed to buy the FTTH product line of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) for an undisclosed sum. The two companies also agreed that Ericsson would resell Calix’s newly beefed up access equipment portfolio worldwide. The agreement centers on the Ericsson EDA 1500 GPON optical line terminal (OLT) and complementary portfolio of optical network terminals (ONTs). The companies expect the product line acquisition to close in the fourth quarter of this year. Calix expects operations related to the acquired assets to be accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share. . Calix will offer jobs to as many as 61 U.S.-based Ericsson employees. The company also will assume ongoing support of the acquired products. Ericsson, meanwhile, will sell both its old products as well as Calix Unified Access systems and software as its preferred options for fiber and VDSL2 applications in 180 countries for three years. "This partnership provides Calix, already North America's fiber access deployment leader, with an extensive new global reseller channel, while our acquisition of Ericsson's fiber access portfolio delivers powerful new complements to our industry-leading Unified Access portfolio," said Carl Russo, president and CEO of Calix, via a press release. "This partnership, built on a clear alignment of corporate strategy and direction, allows Ericsson to fully leverage its strengths in wireless and end-to-end services while relying on Calix to provide innovation and expertise in fixed-line broadband access. We are excited about the opportunity to assume responsibility for development and support of Ericsson's fiber access business, and look forward to working closely with Ericsson and its broad customer base as a preferred global partner." "We believe that this partnership will provide our existing fiber access customers with world-class support and maintenance, and an expanded portfolio of access systems and software from a leading company totally focused on access," said Jan Häglund, vice president and head of product area IP and broadband at Ericsson, in the same release.

Vodafone deploys 100 Gbps in New Zealand

Vodafone is now using 100-Gbps technology from Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) to link two of its data centers in New Zealand. The links represent the first deployment of 100-Gbps technology in the country, Ciena asserts. “Data use on Vodafone’s mobile network has grown by over 125% year on year and on our fixed network we’ve seen a 90% year-on-year increase,” said Vodafone’s Chief Network Officer Tony Baird via a Ciena press release. “Now many customers have started using the Internet, email, and applications like Facebook on their smartphone, and their home network for content like TV and movies, it is rapidly becoming a way of life and this trend shows no sign of slowing. “Upgrading the network between our two Auckland data centers to the fastest in New Zealand means we can stay ahead of the curve for our customers with the ever increasing use of bandwidth intensive data services,” Baird concluded. Vodafone installed the coherent-based 100-Gbps technology on its Ciena 6500 Packet-Optical Platforms. The installation did not disrupt existing services because the new 100-Gbps capabilities can run alongside existing 10- and 40-Gbps channels, Ciena says. “Service providers across the globe are looking to improve their network efficiency and reliability while also expanding capacity to meet surging demand from a new breed of smartphone and tablet users,” says Anthony McLachlan, Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific, Ciena. “Vodafone New Zealand is an excellent example of a company with the forward vision to deploy network technologies that suit their present-day requirements and also lay the groundwork to support future expansion and network services at speeds that reach 100 Gbps and beyond.”