Alcatel-Lucent lights up its Packet Optical Networking vision

Fresh with a major customer win from Qwest Communications, Alcatel-Lucent has now unveiled a new converged IP/Optical backbone network solution that it says will help service providers keep up with the insatiable demand for Internet-based video and high-speed business services (tele-medicine and video surveillance). Alcatel-Lucent thinks that instead of just slapping in a new core router--a costly exercise--service providers should leverage a converged IP/Optical backbone that integrates IP and optical transport. With this converged approach, Alcatel-Lucent claims they can save service providers 30 percent in Capex costs in addition to lower power, space and operational costs.  

An integrated control plane between the optical and IP layers is a key component to Alcatel-Lucent's strategy. By taking this approach, the solution can improve service provisioning time as well as increase network capacity with support for 40 and 100 Gbps data plane speeds. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent will offer an integrated network management approach that will provide network visibility across both the IP and optical domains to a carrier's designated Network Operation Centers (NOCs.)

While other packet optical network service players including Cisco, Ciena, Fujitsu and Juniper will likely downplay Alcatel-Lucent's approach, having a major customer endorsement from Qwest gives Alcatel-Lucent an initial proof point for the new offering.

For more:
- see the release here

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