Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is taking another step in its next-gen technology evolution with plans to deploy Juniper's (NYSE: JNPR) new PTX Series, a move that will enable them to collapse all of its disparate MPLS-based networks onto a common core network.
As a foundational platform, the PTX series provides up to 16 Tbps of capacity in a single chassis in addition to 10G, 40G and 100G Ethernet interfaces.
Initially, the service provider will deploy the 8 Tbps PTX5000 platform in the core of the MPLS network. From there, the service provider will converge all of their disparate core networks onto the same backbone, including private, public, Ethernet, in addition to the wireless network and Terremark.
Already leveraging Juniper's MX platform on the edge today, the deployment of the PTX is all about building a foundation for new bandwidth and service needs.
"It will be the common transport network on the MPLS side for the company," said Ihab Tarazi, vice president of global IP and transport planning and technology for Verizon. "This platform will support the evolution of our business starting with 100G and going to 400G and beyond."
Verizon will begin active deployments in key cities the United States and in Europe before the end of this year and for a number of years after that.
Interestingly, this initiative comes on the heels of its separate initiative with Ciena (Nasdaq: CIEN) to incorporate 100G coherent optical technology and control plane technology in both its long-haul and metro networks.
"It's going to be very well matched with the optical deployment to take advantage of the next-generation optical that's needed with the high speeds, but it will interconnect and converge all of the different MPLS networks," Tarazi said.
They will start with designing the architecture and test the Juniper platform, which they are in the process of doing now. It expects to complete the testing of the platform for both the public and private MPLS network by Q4 2012.
At the same time, they are going to deploy the platforms in key cities in both Europe and the United States, and by the time the testing is finished they will introduce it into the network in those locations. In 2013, it will begin to work on implementing the platform to support other services such as Ethernet, wireless and Terremark's cloud services.
While the platform will initially support 100G, Tarazi said that 400G isn't far behind.
"This platform is starting with 100G from day one in deployment because we need the scale, the technology is available, and we have already deployed 100G with Juniper and Ciena, "he said. "We think we'll go to 400G by sometime in 2014, and then after that it will be expansion of 400G and beyond."
It will also simultaneously test and develop terabit capabilities, but at this point the service provider could not specify the timing for that initiative.
Regardless if it's 100G, 400G or terabit, Tarazi said that "it's the collective need in different geographies that's going to drive the higher speeds."
Besides providing greater scale to support higher speed Ethernet services off a common core and serve as a backbone for their FiOS Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) service, the other benefit of the PTX platform is it will reduce power consumption.
"We're going to get much less power consumption, which is important to us for our green initiatives," Tarazi said.
For more:
- see the release
Special report: Verizon's Ihab Tarazi on driving 100G, control plane technology into the metro network
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