Cable and Wireless and Ciena from latest newsletter; Cable and Wireless , SPRINT, Bell Atlamtic are major players
Cable and Wireless Communications has activated the
biggest, most comprehensive dense wavelength divi-
sion multiplexing (DWDM) network in Europe. The
network runs 600 kilometers between the coastal village
of Porthcurno near Lands End and Bracknell in Berkshire.
The high-performance network runs nearly the
breadth of the United Kingdom, carrying back-haul traf_c
from Gemini, the WorldCom/Cable & Wireless submarine
network connecting the United States and mainland
Europe. Gemini is a 60 Gbps system costing in excess of
$500 million. The _rst link went into service ahead of
schedule in February 1998, and full completion is expected
before the end of the year.
CIENA engineering led to the creation of a new 25 dB
ampli_er (the standard model had been 30 dB) that
enabled the concatenation of up to nine ampli_ers within
a DWDM transmission link. The new design was neces-
sary to meet Cable and Wireless CommunicationsO man-
date that the route not include costly SDH regenerators.
Other factors that led to the Cable & Wireless deci-
sion to bring CIENA into the project include CIENAOs
in-service upgrade capability; its ability to supply optical
add/drop multiplexers; its optical networking orientation;
and its sophisticated network managment system.
OWe needed a fast and áexible solution,O says Nabil
Badr, Cable & Wireless Senior Engineer, who was in
charge of the technical solution for the back-haul net-
work. OWe now have the state-of-the-art technology to
satisfy our requirements.O
The _rst traf_c along the network came from the
Fiber Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG), the world-
wide networking behemoth considered the largest con-
tiguous _ber optics network in the history of mankind.
Second Major CIENA-Loaded U.K.
System Now Under Construction
CIENA also has been awarded a second contract by
Cable and Wireless Communications. The purpose of this
contract is to out_t with DWDM equipment a second
network known as the Germany 6 Backhaul project, also
in the United Kingdom. This project includes four inter-
connected routes.
Equipment installation for back-haul routes from opti-
cal _ber cables connecting London and Germany has
already begun. The U.K. routes to be serviced as part of
Germany 6 Backhaul include Easton Nab-Bracknell,
Bracknell-Winterton, Whitehall-Winterton and Scarborough-
Winterton.
OAs the largest DWDM installation in Europe, this
gives us a visibility that is invaluable,O says Roger Bates,
director of CIENA-U.K. OThe growing number of carriers
in Europe will _nd us a ready and willing partner with a
proven track record.O
About Cable & Wireless
Cable & Wireless is one of the worldOs leading
providers of international telecommunications services. Its
businesses provide 15 million customers in 70 countries
with a complete range of international, domestic and
mobile communications. Cable & Wireless is the worldOs
third largest carrier of international traf_c, provides mobile
communications in more than 30 countries and operates the
worldOs largest, most advanced cableship áeet.
Cable and Wireless Communications, created from the
merger of Bell Cablemedia, Mercury Communications,
NYNEX CableComms and Videotron, is the largest integrated
supplier of telecommunications and television services in
the U.K. Cable and Wireless Communications is the U.K.Os
operating arm of Cable & Wireless plc.
Cable and Wireless Communications Activates Europe's
Largest DWDM Network Using CIENA Equipment
Making Waves: The CIENA Report is published quarterly
by the CIENA Corporation. |
