ADC Telecommunications Announces Breakthrough in Ethernet
Technology
Business Wire - December 10, 1997 18:13
%ADC-TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADCT %MINNESOTA %COMED %COMPUTERS %ELECTRONICS %TELECOMMUNICATIONS
%TRADESHOW V%BW P%BW
ANAHEIM, Calif--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 1997--
Establishes New Standard for High Speed Data Transmission and
Deliverability Over Ring Networks
Can Reduce Cost of Equipment in Dedicated Regional Ring Networks
by 50% to 80% While Expanding Flexibility
ADC Telecommunications today announced the availability of the Fast EtherRing(TM) Switch, ADC's first
product based on its new EtherRing(TM) technology for which a patent is pending. EtherRing technology
enables data to be transmitted over fiber rings for the first time in native Ethernet format, at potentially less cost
than networks implemented using other packet-based transmission formats. The Fast EtherRing Switch
enables high-speed, high-capacity transport of data, Internet Protocol (IP)-video, and IP-voice over telephony,
and MPEG digital video over fiber optic rings of virtually unlimited distances. Using the Fast EtherRing Switch
for high speed data transmission eliminates the need for distributed routers and central switches, vastly
reducing the number of packet conversion points in the metropolitan network. The Fast EtherRing Switch initially
uses a dedicated fiber or works in conjunction with ADC's DV6000(TM) high speed digital transport system.
According to data communications industry analysts who have reviewed the product, EtherRing technology will
enable regional networks to be implemented over a dedicated fiber with possible equipment cost savings of
50% to 80% over ATM/SONET based systems. The Fast EtherRing Switch allows Ethernet capacity to be
incrementally expanded from 200 million bits per second (Mbps) to 16 billion bits per second (Gbps), equivalent
to OC-288 data rate over a single fiber.
"EtherRing technology may significantly lower the network operator's cost of offering voice, video, and telephony
services in metropolitan networks, and it is available now," said William J. Cadogan, ADC's chairman and chief
executive officer.
"Communication networks are constantly being re-engineered to overcome the bottlenecks caused by
increased traffic demands and the growing use of bandwidth-intense applications. Many operators are doubling
their transmission capacity every six months," said Vivek Ragavan, president of the Broadband Communication
Division of ADC Telecommunications. "In this highly competitive environment, EtherRing can provide network
operators with competitive advantages both in terms of driving down network transport costs, and in the ability
to expand network capacity quickly, incrementally, and with minimal operations impact," Ragavan continued.
The Ethernet format has been limited to short distance, star-based networks, such as Local Area Networks
(LANs). Currently, for longer distance transmission of high-speed data over public and private networks, data
must be converted to frame relay, ATM, or other formats. These data conversions add costs to the network in
two ways: the cost of conversion equipment including routers or switches at each local site and central switches,
and the loss of transmission capacity across the entire backbone network due to the significantly higher
overhead and lower transmission efficiency of the converted data formats. The Fast EtherRing Switch is
designed to consolidate routing and provide distributed switches in place of hubs, carrying packets in the
metropolitan ring in the less expensive Ethernet format.
Local and Metropolitan Area Networks (LAN/MAN) Implications
The Fast EtherRing Switch makes "all Ethernet" metropolitan networks possible by using native Ethernet
transmission protocol over a dedicated fiber and inexpensive EtherRing switches at each remote node, instead
of other packet formats requiring complex, expensive, and maintenance-intensive distributed routers at all of the
remote nodes. Inexpensive and self-learning, EtherRing Fast Ethernet Switches control traffic and apply
IP-based security and delivery priorities.
Cable Television Implications
CATV operators will be able to establish Ethernet networks that deliver multiple IP-based services to
businesses and homes. The Fast EtherRing Switch allows IP data and video signals to be transmitted to/from
multiple hubs across regions without the installation of expensive routing equipment, thereby reducing the
delivery cost to network operators and users. It also creates exciting opportunities for providing alternate access
and metropolitan area network services to area businesses. The Fast EtherRing Switch makes new revenue
streams possible by providing new transport capabilities at lower costs than previously attainable.
"No longer is Ethernet limited to point-to-point connections. The Fast EtherRing Switch allows network
operators to reduce the expense associated with packet based ring networks, and reduce the cost and loss of
exclusivity that is associated with satellite transmission," said Michael H. Coden, president and CEO of
Codenoll Technology Corporation (a subsidiary of ADC Telecommunications) and the inventor of EtherRing and
co-developer of the Fast EtherRing Switch.
The Fast EtherRing Switch consists of both hardware and software for transporting digital signals, Ethernet
interfaces, switching components and related operational and network management software. The Fast
EtherRing Switch has already been field tested and is currently available. For additional information on
EtherRing technology, the Fast EtherRing Switch, or the DV6000 system, please contact ADC's Broadband
Communications Division at 1-800-504-4443.
ADC Telecommunications Inc. is a leading supplier of transmission and networking systems used to deliver
voice, data, and video services. The company holds a pre-eminent market position in physical connectivity
products for wireless, fiber-optic, twisted pair, and coaxial networks. Revenues for fiscal year 1997 are
estimated to be $1.1 billion. More information about ADC Telecommunications and its business units, products,
and technologies is available at its Web site, adc.com, or by calling the company at 1-800-366-3891
ext. 3475.
DV6000 is a trademark of ADC Telecommunications, Inc. EtherRing is a trademark of Codenoll Technology
Corporation, a subsidiary of ADC Telecommunications.
CONTACT: ADC Telecommunications, Minneapolis
Mary Beth Staron, 203/317-4112
mary-beth_staron@ndc.com |
