[GST and Avici Systems Usher in Terabit Networking Era]
(This release from back in May connects NTON and Avici relationships. -- mark)
First True Terabit-Capable Backbone Solution Deployed in a Live Network
LAS VEGAS, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- GST Telecommunications, Inc., and Avici Systems today announced deployment of an Avici Terabit Switch/Router(TM) (TSR) into the West Coast leg of the Next Generation Internet (NGI) "SuperNet" project, a networking research test bed co-funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Transparent Optical Network (NTON) Consortium. Deployment of the router is a milestone in the industry since it is the first time that a true terabit-capable backbone solution has been deployed into a live network.
"The explosive growth of the Internet and Internet Protocol (IP) services is making terabit networking a necessity for broadband service providers. The Avici TSR enhances our broadband capabilities and reduces our cost for delivering broadband services," said Joe Basile, president and chief executive officer of GST. "To build the NTON project into the ultra-high-speed network envisioned by DARPA, an IP backbone product that is capable of efficiently scaling to terabits while also providing reliability and quality of service features is absolutely essential. This is the first commercially deployable terabit router. The NTON deployment provides GST with an outstanding opportunity to gain 'hands-on' experience with the technology as the first step in full-scale commercial deployment."
"The first live network deployment of the TSR is a major proof point for the telecommunications market, securing GST's and Avici's leadership position in the terabit networking arena," said Surya Panditi, president and chief executive officer of Avici Systems. "Avici is helping GST to deliver the bandwidth necessary to power the next generation NTON project and is proud to be at the forefront and assisting with this state-of-the-art networking project."
Being tested by several national service providers and the first terabit IP core switch/router to be deployed, the Avici TSR boasts unequaled scalability, supporting from 2.5 gigabits to 5.6 terabits of useable input/output capacity. A fully configured TSR can support up to 8960 OC3 ports, 2240 OC12 ports, 2240 OC48 ports, or 560 OC192 ports. All interfaces operate at line rate and link protocols include packet over SONET, ATM, and MPLS.
In addition to scalability, service provider benefits include carrier-grade element and network resiliency, robust quality of service features, and network simplification. To meet service providers' scalability and reliability requirements with existing core routers requires multiple boxes and frequent fork-lift upgrades. The Avici TSR solves these problems and allows service providers to offer mission-critical IP services.
The NTON Consortium includes Nortel Networks, GST Telecommunications, Sprint Communications and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The Consortium is creating the NGI testbed as part of DARPA's Next Generation Internet "SuperNet" Program. When complete, the NTON West Coast network will provide the research community, from Seattle to San Diego, with the highest bandwidth available today for applications and network technology research. |
