Hi Steve, good to see you here. Let us know if you do find the time to give these startups a good look. I've always had a very high regard for your analyses.
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I found this article on the CIEN board, and thought it worthy of printing below for posterity. It demonstrates what the upstarts will need to integrate with at some point, and in other respects, what they will be up against in the way of inertia.
Despite it's being a CIEN release, my intent is to demonstrate the issues involved, from a generic standpoint.
go2net.newsalert.com
Enjoy, Frank C.
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"Telecommunications Carriers See Rapidly Approaching Shift to Simplified Network With Core Optical Layer"
Business Wire - February 02, 1999 11:25
LINTHICUM, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 2, 1999--
New Research Rates CIENA as Leader in DWDM and Best Overall in Optical Networking; CIENA Also Cited as Easiest Vendor to Work With
Telecommunications companies almost unanimously believe that network architectures will shift to data-friendly, packet and cell-based networks, directly connecting IP and/or ATM to the optical layer according to new research released today. Forty-four percent of the decision-makers surveyed said that this simplified network shift will be significantly underway by the end of 1999.
The survey, conducted by Yankelovich Partners, queried decision makers from telecommunication service providers, including interexchange carriers (IXCs), regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs), and competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), some of which were CIENA customers. Participants were unaware that CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) commissioned the study.
"The research confirms that data and Internet growth is causing service providers to begin adoption of the highly scalable optical networking architecture we have been driving over the last two years," said Steve Chaddick, CIENA's senior vice president for strategy and corporate development. "Industry-wide, this shift toward an optical core represents the next big opportunity for differentiation amongst service providers and equipment vendors alike."
Survey Highlights Highlights of the study include:
o Almost unanimously, decision-makers believe that
simplification of the current circuit-switched network
toward a more data-centric approach, directly connecting
IP and/or ATM to the optical layer will occur. Forty-four
percent responded they believe significant steps toward
such simplification will occur in 1999, and there was an
equally divided view over the role SONET would play in
this next generation network.
o CIENA received the highest average ratings with regard to
leadership in developing new technology, surpassing
Alcatel, Nortel, Pirelli, NEC and Lucent.
o Decision-makers rated CIENA as the company in the industry that
is "easiest to work with," and CIENA was named as the leader in
delivering service and support to its customers.
o Decision-makers said the most important factors in
choosing a DWDM vendor include product features, customer
service, system scalability and network management
capabilities.
o CIENA was named most often as the leader in DWDM systems. o CIENA was mentioned most often as the best company overall in
optical networking.
o CIENA was named as the company in the industry most likely
to deliver on a new product on the date promised when the
product was announced.
"Yankelovich's findings indicate overwhelming support for CIENA's vision and prove that carriers believe that direct connection of cell and packet data to the optical layer is the first step toward a true next generation network," continued Jesus Leon, vice president, products & technology at CIENA. "We plan to continue driving innovation in the industry, enabling a smooth transition from current SONET-based legacy systems to next generation optical networks."
ABOUT CIENA
Based in Linthicum, Maryland, CIENA Corporation is a worldwide market leader of open architecture, dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) systems for long-distance and local exchange carriers. CIENA's DWDM solutions include the MultiWave(R) 1600 long-haul transport system, WaveWatcher(R) network management software, the MultiWave Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer, the MultiWave Sentry(TM) enhanced long-distance transport system and the new MultiWave(R) Firefly and MultiWave Metro(TM) short-haul systems. Through its Alta subsidiary, based near Atlanta, GA, CIENA provides a range of engineering, furnishing and installation (EF&I) services for telecommunications service providers in the areas of transport, switching and wireless communications.
Additional information about CIENA can be found on its World Wide Website: ciena.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS:
Forward-looking statements in this release, are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied, and such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, which include the risk factors disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 10, 1998.
CONTACT: Press Contacts:
Denny Bilter
CIENA Corporation
(800) 921-1144
email: dbilter@ciena.com
or
Investor Contact:
Suzanne DuLong
CIENA Corporation
(888) 243-6223
email: ir@CIENA.com
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