SPOTLIGHT: ADVA eyes Tier 1 market advance


ADVA Optical Networking, an equipment vendor based in Munich, Germany, is challenging long-standing tradition and possibly current conventional wisdom by targeting top-tier U.S. carriers. The company's latest step in that effort was the recent hiring of former Cisco Systems and Fujitsu executive Ron Martin, who brings a load of big customer contacts.

But, European vendors, have never had much luck with U.S Bell companies and their ilk (unless you count that New Jersey vendor that moved to France). ADVA is already well-established in the U.S. and strong among lower-tier carriers, so maybe it has an edge. Still even more daunting, however, is the prospect of climbing the ladder and competing for often elusive RBOC dollars.

For more:
- Light Reading reports on ADVA's ambition